VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

So here is the good and bad news on the park:

Beach:

For the most part the flooding has moved most of the debris high on the beach or in the tree line. There are two new trees attached to their stumps nestled in with the big spruce on the beach. Just below the old boatlauch is another large tree attached to the stump parallel to the beach. Everything else is clear, so in my mind this is good

Campground:

Road into the campground has been washed away enough that it is 4X4 access only. About 1/3 of the way into the campground trees begin to block the road. At the junction or beginning of the circle is a mass of trees down making the road virtually unrecognizable. I frankly did not realize I was at the junction, so many trees down.
Beginning my walk around the circle started out ok, only a few trees accross the road, some fairly large though. As I entered the main park, near the outhouses my heart sank, looking into the heart of the camping area was mass destruction. Walking into the center area was extemely difficult due to the snow and trees and debris everywhere, had to walk the beach to get to the other side (kiterside) of the campground. Basically from Vics camping area to the poster/Day launch area trees are down everywhere, most of the larger trees are still standing, although several lost their tops. Looking towards where Mark and Mary (kiters) camped is relatively intact. Only a few trees down here and there. As I completed the circle up around the bend by the upper washroom once again mass destruction. It looks like a finger of God came down and basically leveled everything it touches. Somehow the outhouse survived.

So Basically the campground is a huge mess, absolutely unusable and unsafe as there are many semi uprooted trees and many more trees leaning into others for support but ready to fall at a moments notice. Major work required to fix.

I have taken photos of the damage, but am not able to post as I do not have the connection for my camera here in Nitinaht so as soon as I get home in Port I will post the pictures.

Sadly I feel this storm has definately altered the campground in many ways, on the good side, it should be a warmer place as more sun will now be able to enter into the camping area.
dale

Thanks for the update Dale. Looking forward to your pictures.

Gulp. Anyone know if MoFRM has plans & money to clean up? Tx for the info, Dale.

Thanks Dale, for the update, let use know when the clean up starts and If I can help.
Tony

If a clean up crew is required count me in.

I'm in too -- as long as I can get there. I'm new to the windsurfing scene and I couldn't do without Nitinat.

I would be willing to help clean up as well! I have logged a lot of chainsaw hours, but have no saw.......so if you need an operator or just a pair of hands let me know.
cheers

It sounds like there is a lot of timber down. Min. of Forest may need to have a look at site, they may have to get a self loader in there to take the big stuff out. Let me know if there is a tree cutting party. I used to fall and buck many years ago. Gene..... ps you can rent chainsaws

Sounds pretty insane out there. Count me in on the de-decimation efforts.

Chris

Dale
DO you know if all the wood thats bucked up in a cleanup has to be left as 'coarse woody debris' or can some of it be set aside for campfires? Should be enough wood there for years and years by the sound of it!

Sorry for lack of response, computers down in the store. As for the question of clean up and woody debris, I don't know. What I do know is that the question of volunteers etc etc may become a problem with liability. In my professional opinion as a Utility Arborist, there are alot of hazards with loaded trees ontop of each other, trees partially uprooted that need to be felled, trees hung up in others, etc etc. These hazards in many cases are extreme. Machines and professional sawmen are, in my mind the best answer, but not cheap. I know that when I did the work last year, I offered to do it free, however MOF refused due to workers comp and Liability, so I would imagine that would apply again this year. Once the snow load is gone I plan to head back in again to fully access it for my own curiosity, and hope to report it to MOF so a plan of action and be in place so that next season is not impacted at all. As for firewood, no worries there, there is a debris everywhere, definately no shortage of wood.

It would be a shame to see all the windfall go to firewood. I'm thinking portable sawmill, at least if there is some cedar of appropriate size. The saw operator could take some for pay, and leave some for volunteers to craft into boardwalks/tent platforms/viewing platform/sauna/etc... whatever is needed.

fabulous idea with the MOF full of red tape I have my doubts but that would be awesome I'd put in my share of carpentry if it came to THAT Mind you we'd likely have to do it all over again next year

At least next year my solar panels will work a lot better too

Hey, wood into lumber for building stuff like more tables would be great! Great idea.

I spoke to Paul Tataryn on January 17, 2007. He is the supervisor in charge of the Nitinaht site - Provincial Recreation Manager for the Coast Region. Frank Ullmann is the officer in charge and reports to Paul. They're both with the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, which now has responsibility for recreational sites.

I referred him to the email chain in this forum and told him that there was a group of users willing to help out to get the site operational if they could.

He confirmed the sentiment that it's a pretty dangerous place right now and careful moves were in order to address the situation.

Their typical budget for winter storm clean up is $5,000, but that obvously won't be enough for this. One potential way of dealing with it is to have someone agree to remove the wood in exchange for getting to keep it. They will be seeking proposals from forestry contractors. The response will depend on how much of the wood is salvageable.

The standing trees also need to be assessed.

The ground is too soft right now to bring in heavy equipment, so there will be a delay in any potential wood removal because of that.

Here's a copy of Paul's email to Frank:

Frank, I received a call from Joe McBride, who is one of the long
> time users at Nitinat. The surfing/kiting community is interested to
> know what our plans are for the site. Essentially, I said that as the
> first step, we are assessing the log salvage opportunity to see how
> that fits in with our rehab plans. We hope to have the site safe and
> usable by the beginning of the season but it is too soon to predict
> that. I'm not sure if you are dealing with any other users but I
> indicated to Joe that we will keep in contact with him as our plans
> develop. He will then get word to the users. There seems to be a
> willingness from the community to assist with clean-up.