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FOREST
UNDER
THREAT
December
12,
2002
Save
Our
Seine
River
Environment
Inc.
(SOS)
is
pleased
to
provide
the
community,
SOS
members
and
community
groups
supporting
the
Bois
des
Esprits
an
update.
The
following
information
reflects
our
position
and
identifies
the
issues
affecting
the
forest.
The
forest
is
situated
close
to
a
proposed
residential
development.
On
April
1st
2002,
the
Developer's
bulldozers
cleared
'A'
Quality
habitat
for
a
road
at
Southglen
without
the
neccessary
permit.
SOS
is
a
member
of
the
Royalwood
Access
Assessment
Study
reviewing
the
proposed
crossing
of
the
Seine
River
and
is
currently
fundraising
to
rescue
and
preserve
the
Bois
des
Esprits.
-
SOS
is
committed
to
"preserve,
protect
and
enhance
the
natural
environment
and
heritage
resource
of
the
Seine
River"
(GOALS
OF
SOS,
#1).
The
Bois
des
Esprits
forest
is
of
paramount
importance
to
the
Seine
River
environment,
as
it
represents
the
largest
and
last
remaining
natural
area
along
the
corridor.
This
area
is
classified
as
'A'
Quality
Habitat,
defined
as
"virtually
undisturbed
by
man,
and
it
reflects
historical
natural
vegetation
and
wildlife
habitat."
(Andrew
Cowan
1998,
City
Environmental
Coordinator).
-
The
forest's
unique
features
and
vestiges
of
rare
oxbow
wetlands
prompted
the
City
Naturalist
to
describe
the
Bois
des
Esprits
as
an
"ecological
jewel"
within
the
city.
-
Concerning
the
Bois
des
Esprits,
former
City
Forester
Mike
Allen
commented
that,
"Undoubtedly
this
forest
is
unique.
There
really
is
not
any
other
area
along
Winnipeg's
river
corridors
that
compares
with
this
woodland."
He
also
expressed
concern
that
some
areas
are
too
sensitive
for
even
existing
trails
to
remain.
-
SOS
applauds
the
commitment
of
Mayor
Glen
Murray
and
City
of
Winnipeg
to
preserve
the
Bois
des
Esprits.
The
City
has
committed
$1
Million
and
challenged
the
community
to
raise
another
$600,000,
which
the
City
will
match
and
use
to
purchase
the
remaining
40.9
acres
not
saved
by
waterway
requirement
(33
acres)
or
by
dedication
(7.5
acres).
The
City's
actions
confirm
that
their
environmental
experts
and
recommendations
of
the
Seine
River
Task
Force
Study
(2000)
have
been
recognized.
-
While
the
City
has
offered
$65,000/acre
to
purchase
the
forest,
the
developer
has
demanded
$75,000/acre,
which
will
increase
the
total
purchase
price
by
over
$400,000.
-
In
response
to
the
City's
challenge,
individual
citizens
have
responded
by
showing
their
support.
Total
funds
raised
to
date
are
$67,000.
All
donations
will
be
issued
a
tax
receipt
and
doubled
by
the
City
to
purchase
the
forest
from
Grandin
Park
Developments
Ltd.
-
SOS
does
not
oppose
the
Royalwood
Phase
II
Development
near
the
Bois
des
Esprits.
SOS
believes
it
will
be
a
beautiful
community
and
its
residents
will
enjoy
their
close
proximity
to
the
Seine
River
and
the
Bois
des
Esprits.
-
The
Royalwood
developer
and
owner
of
the
Bois
des
Esprits
forest,
(Grandin
Park
Developments
Ltd.
a
joint
venture
-
38%
Province
of
Manitoba
and
62%
Ladco
Company
Ltd.)
want
to
construct
a
bridge
at
Southglen,
which
will
require
clearing
of
the
forest
and
re-channeling
of
the
river.
This
will
have
a
negative
environmental
impact
on
the
area.
-
SOS
strongly
opposes
a
bridge
crossing
at
Southglen
Boulevard,
located
some
500
meters
from
the
proposed
bridge
at
Warde
Avenue.
SOS
supports
a
crossing
at
Warde
Avenue
and
urges
its
installation
as
soon
as
possible.
-
The
traffic
study
consultant
retained
by
the
Royalwood
Access
Assessment
Study's
Steering
Committee
reported
that
20
years
from
now,
based
on
full
development
and
using
peak
traffic
calculations,
a
single
crossing
at
Warde
Avenue
will
meet
projected
traffic
requirements.
-
A
re-channeled
river
and
replanted
forest
is
no
longer
'A'
Quality
Habitat.
Bridges
and
their
traffic
cut
the
Greenway
into
'fragments'
or
smaller
segments
of
habitat.
Homes
or
roadways
surround
these
fragments
and
further
stress
habitat
quality
(noise,
pets,
pollution
etc.).
Habitat
quality
also
depends
on
the
size
of
remaining
natural
areas
and
their
'buffer'
between
the
urban
landscape.
Bridges
500
meters
apart
fragment
and
impact
the
Greenway's
'connectivity'.
Healthy
Greenways
must
remain
as
intact
as
possible.
-
SOS
and
the
surrounding
community
do
not
want
any
devastating
and
unnecessary
impact
along
the
banks
of
the
Seine
River
at
Southglen.
A
meeting
held
April
24th
2002
attracted
over
600
local
residents
appalled
at
the
developer's
premature
bulldozing
of
the
forest,
which
was
completed
without
the
necessary
municipal
permit.
-
On
December
16,
SOS
will
meet
with
representatives
from
the
Province
of
Manitoba,
The
Honourable
Drew
Caldwell,
Minister
of
Family
Services
and
Housing
as
well
as
The
Honourable
Steve
Ashton,
Minister
of
Conservation
(invited)
and
MLAs
Linda
Asper
(Riel)
and
Nancy
Allen
(St.
Vital).
SOS
will
plead
with
the
Province
of
Manitoba
to
recognize
this
priceless
'ecological
jewel'
and
to
step
forward
as
Co-Owners
of
the
Bois
des
Esprits,
partners
of
the
Royalwood
Phase
II
Development
and
stewards
of
the
Environment
to
not
destroy
the
forest
habitat
or
re-channel
the
Seine
River.
-
On
December
17,
SOS
will
appeal
to
the
Riel
Community
Committee
Meeting
at
Prendergast
Centre
-
906
Cottonwood
at
5:00
p.m.
The
Meeting
will
review
the
proposed
Royalwood
Phase
II
Development.
SOS
and
other
community
groups
want
the
Councillors
(Councillors
Angus,
Steeves
and
Vandal)
of
the
Riel
Community
Committee
to
support
a
crossing
at
Warde,
and
not
approve
a
second
crossing
of
the
Seine
River
at
Southglen
Blvd.
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