For the past 4 summers my parents, my daughter and I, and many of our friends have been going up to Marshall Lake. My parents own 10 acres, 3 of being right along one side of the lake. Marshall Lake has lots of cat tails and other plant life surrounding the area. We removed some of the cat tails, seaweed and muck in the water. Underneath is black sand with flecks of gold shimmering along the shore. Perfect for swimming. Never have I experienced swimming in such clean water free from all types of pollution. The photos of the beach do not do it justice to the natural beauty that is held together by the large rock dam.
During the evening in late June my daughter and I were playing at the beach getting ready to head back to the cabin. Two older men came up to the fence and said "Do you know whats going on around here?" I replied "Not really, but we were told they would be draining the lake by a couple feet." I walked over to talk to them closer.
They informed me that in the near future the Ministry of Forests and Fisheries of British Columbia would be coming up there to drain the lake by 16 feet across and 20 feet deep. The lake has been 40 feet deep for over 50 years as we know. Before then the lake could have been just a widening of the creek that runs through there.
I was shocked when I received this information from the locals. Not only were we never told about the future plans to remove our beach and our portion of the lake, but it was kept secret from us for the past 3 years. I realized then this could be our last evening enjoying the lake for what it was. My daughter and I couldn't help but almost cry and try to think of something we could do to prevent this from happening. "I love Marshall Lake Mom, I don't want them to drain the lake" said my worried 4 year old daughter. We made it home after taking a few photos of the lake the next day. I rushed back into the city to let my parents know the news.
They were more shocked than I was. My dad had talked to people from the Ministry up there the summer before, but nothing was mentioned of this. They informed him that there would be an increase in the ditch size going through our property by 2 feet and nothing more. As long as my dad was able to get his 4x4 through there that's as big as they would make it we were told.
Since spring of summer 2011 we have not been able to access our property and our cabin by car anymore. We walk 5 minutes through a dangerous ditch to walk down another trail and up a hill to get there. Previously we could drive right into our cabin.
No recent information about proper access has been given to us and no plans have been made. My Mom has contacted someone from the Ministry of Forests and Fisheries, and to let them know I have been injured in that ditch they made. Not only is my injury preventing me from attending college full time, but is preventing me from working as well.
For the past couple years I have been trying to explore further into the beauty that surrounds the area and the lake. I am what I consider myself a very extreme hiker, snowboarder and outdoors person. By looking at me you would never assume this. But I am a daughter to a hunter/fisherman, and also a granddaughter and niece to 2 uncles that are the same. I grew up hiking up mountains, fishing, shooting a 22 rifle with my dad in the bush and camping at small lakes and along the river. The bush is where I feel most at home. I am not scared to walk for hours in the bush with my dog.
When your at a place like Marshall Lake, its hard to even think about pollution or consider it. Life at Marshall Lake is a lot different. A lot quieter. A lot brighter and a lot cleaner. Except for above the lake in the old mining spots.
This area has been left for how many years I am unsure, could be since the 70s or 10 or 20 years ago. When I first took a walk up there, just 5 minutes past my parents property what I saw then is a lot different than what I see now.
I used to see a giant cave like formation with copper water glowing underneath, rocks on the side sparkling in the sun light. Sand and dirt so dry like a desert and clay that you can write your name in. Pretty cool I thought. I could just walk 5 minutes up my parents property and see for myself what mining was like.
Now when I walk up there, I look at the area a lot different. We have been told that there could be future plans to mine around Marshall Lake. I look at the stained water. The dying ground with the minerals sucking out all moisture from everything close by. Grass that no longer grows and rocks so orange that when you pick them up your hands become stained.
When you try to wash them off in the water, they become even more stained, and dry and suddenly become sore. I learned very quickly not to touch that water.
The rest of the area is covered in huge ditches and holes 10-15 feet deep and 10-20 feet long. Very dangerous for someone who is not a good hiker. The mining company has closed off the road to this area. The only traffic through there is the bears and the deer. Too bad for the area, it could have been more amazing hiking trails and cross country ski trails up there. Instead the ditches remain. A lonely, long forgotten cabin sits at the top of the hill where they closed off the road. I imagine it had quite the view of the lake when the trees were shorter. I walk back down to the lake and a vision of the mining trucks come into my mind. I sit and hope silently beside the lake that this doesn't happen.
Please help support the future of Marshall Lake by signing the online petiton.
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/premier-of-the-province-of-british-columbia-don-t-destroy-marshall-providence-lake
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/marshalllake/
Read my other blog about the Wild Life of Marshall Lake
