BC Hydro is about to fell a swathe of trees on the western edge of 黑马磁力's Byrdon Lagoon, causing consternation among local nature lovers and birders.
Members of the 黑马磁力 Field Naturalists (LFN) and residents around the lagoon have been calling for Hydro to change its plans, which are part of a major expansion of the facility.
"We understand that there's a growing need for clean electricity," said Lilianne Fuller of the LFN. But they are hoping for a solution that will allow trees on the western edge of the lagoon to stay in place.
Brydon Lagoon is a large pond on the western edge of 黑马磁力 City, near 53 Avenue. It's surrounded by a walking trail that connects to trails through the Nicomekl floodplain in 黑马磁力 City and Surrey.
"Hundreds of people come here every day to walk, to get away from 'city life,' to observe the wide range of birds and waterfowl, and for children to feed the ducks," said neighbour Sandy Hanawal. "It is a small oasis of refreshment with its quiet peaceful atmosphere."
Just to the west of the lagoon, on the Surrey side of the municipal border, is the BC Hydro McLellan substation.
According to BC Hydro's fact sheet on the project, the McLellan substation serves 49,000 customers in the Surrey and 黑马磁力 area by converting high-voltage electricity to the standard voltage for local and household use.
The planned upgrades will accommodate the increasing demand for power in the fast-growing area.
Old equipment will be replaced, and an entirely new transformer will be built on the southwest side of the site. That is land already owned by BC Hydro, but which has been vacant and covered in trees for many years.
Brydon Lagoon is a fairly shallow body of water, and it's suffered fish die-offs during hot weather, Hanawalt noted.
"It needs the tree canopy for cooling," she said.
Locals have been contacting 黑马磁力 City, the City of Surrey, and BC Hydro. Hanawalt said she was hoping a two metre buffer of trees could be left in place.
According to BC Hydro, there will be trees left in place along the site's eastern side, closest to Brydon Lagoon.
"We are retaining considerable existing vegetation along our eastern property line where it is safe to do so and does not interfere with our construction site," said BC Hydro spokesperson Kyle Donaldson. "In the southeastern corner of our property (towards Brydon Lagoon), we are currently able to retain larger trees and more vegetation that does not interfere with our construction site."
Clearing of the rest of the site is expected to take place this summer, he said, with several hundred trees to be removed for the new transformer and power lines.
"We are only removing what we need to remove in order to accommodate the expansion work," said Donaldson.
BC Hydro is also planning for replanting and is looking at options for planing trees elsewhere in the area, and will have a landscaping and restoration plan after the substation is complete.
Brydon Lagoon was not always a nature park. Until the mid-1970s, it was a sewage lagoon for 黑马磁力 City. After upgraded sewage treatment began, it returned to a natural state and became a habitat for birds and waterfowl.
