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Letter: Observations of national park area

I have lived next door to the area proposed for the national park for 20 years
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Penticton Western News letters to the editor.

Observations of national park area

The following is what I have observed happening in the proposed national park in South Okanagan.

I have lived next door to the area proposed for the national park for 20 years, at the Kilpoola Estates near Kilpoola Lake.

1. Dumping of garbage, building materials, yard waste, old tires, and even an old china toilet.

2. Dirt bikes, quads, four-wheel drive vehicles chasing stock, including crippling a horse, harassing horseback riders, mud-bogging, going off road and spreading noxious weeds.

3. Hunters shooting near homes, shooting explosive charges at bird houses and signs, shooting dogs and cats (and possibly cattle and horses, not proven but strongly suspected).

4. Camping and bush parties leaving all kinds of items such as bottles, cans, clothing and half-burnt fire wood (even on the middle of the road).

5. Grazing not to range-use plans, cattle guards not maintained (full of dirt), old cattle guards abandoned in bush, cutting fences, opening of gates and stealing gates, illegal dams, unmaintained dams causing stream diversions.

6. Old mines and mineral exploration pits not cleaned up.

7. Getting rid of grow-op equipment including good HD extension cord. (Thank you)

8. Fires set intentionally and accidentally, causing major fires where there is no fire protection.

9. Dropping off unwanted dogs and cats.

10. Young children, speeders and drunks in a variety of motorized vehicles on roads and trails.

11. Developer trying to build in the proposed area 100 houses where the zoning is for 12

houses. Over $300,000 spent on dry wells in the 50 house development next door to the proposed park area.

12. B.C. parks monitoring only occasionally due to staff shortages.

In light of the above and having lived next to a national park area I strongly suggest a national park would be the best for this area.

Harry Nielsen

Penticton