The Lost Lake Trails Committee is now ready to make an official proposal to protect the wetland area in the Beaverly neighbourhood,, according to leading organizer Doug Beckett.
"(We're) currently setting the stage to apply to the B.C. provincial government to have the Lost Lake area established as an interpretive forest - a category of Recreation Site designation," said Beckett. "The management of the Lost Lake area would be in partnership between the B.C. government and us, possibly via the Beaverly Community Association."
The next meeting of the community association on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.at the Beaverly Fire Hall is a critical moment in the life of the Lost Lake concept, said Beckett.
"This is an important meeting. We will review and possibly formally accept the memorandum of understanding between the supporters of Lost Lake and the BCA."
The grassroots group of community supporters has had a busy year leading up to this pivotal vote. Ten families paid a $10 fee to join the group formally. One donor gave a $50 cheque to support the group. Key supporters Ted Orland and John Glass formally agreed to begin the process of building trails and holding work parties if the MOU is established, a wildlife biologist agreed to volunteer his expertise for interpretive purposes and two community "bio-blitzes" were held in conjunction with the Prince George Naturalists Club to begin quantifying the bio-diversity of the area.
Should the community association board and membership agree to formally support the proposal, other volunteers would be needed for things like writing grant requests, planning trail systems, creating interpretive signs and pamphlets, and other site preparation.
Beckett said that if people step forward in the next week with pledges of support, in writing or in person at the meeting, it would help the community association see the value in a Lost Lake interpretive forest similar to the ones already underway in other parts of the city, such as Forests For the World, Ferguson Lake and Hudson's Bay Slough.
