Fish kill harbinger of more climate-change events looming
Dear North Cowichan Mayor & Council, CVRD Directors and Premier David Eby:
The alarming report about thousands of invasive fish dying in Somenos Lake is an arguable harbinger of more climate-change events looming across Cowichan, and indeed B.C.
Details are found on the Cowichan Valley Citizen’s website of Aug. 12, 2024.
Water warming from climate-change is science-based. While council, the CVRD and our province cannot stop this swelling scourge, our environment will benefit from all actions to eliminate fossil fuels in favour of cogent green energies.
We also urge council, the CVRD and the province to take deadly action now concerning invasive species destroying water- and land ecosystems such as Cowichan’s. Let’s call them invasive-species death squads.
Eliminating invasives is touted in North Cowichan's environmental bylaws and official community plan.
It’s ironically beneficial this pumpkinseed-fish kill could remove this Somenos Lake invasive — a seeming canary in our coal mine for many other natural species locally at risk due to warming water.
We expect provincial staff to remove these fetid fish carcasses forthwith; logical action to be urged by our environmentally minded council and CVRD, supported by our heroic Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society.
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan
