rmorth shore Sunday. March 28. 1999 - North Shore News — 3 news SUNDAY FOCUS Vancouver Archives photo CAPILANO Lake as it was on Dec. 23, 1952, drained and under construction. Two years later it was filled 285 feet above the bedrock. A vision for Cap Valley Former watershed gatekeeper lobbies to make area a park Andrew McCredie Editor andrew@nsnews.com DENNIS Olson retired as a Capilano watershed gatekeeper last year, but the Vancouver man remains passionate about protecting the vast mountain valley. However, instead of keeping the public out of the water- shed, Olson wants to throw open the gates to Capilano Lake and create an urban recreation park to rival any in the world. “Such a plan would be great for the tourism industry and the film industry since they could get access to the watershed val- fey,” Olson says. “And we could build a highway from the Lions Gate Bridge along the west side of the Capilano River and the west side of Capilano Lake and then right through the Capilano Valley to Britannia Beach.” But he knows that time is running out for such a proposal. The retired logger is dismayed that his former employer, the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), is plowing ahead with multi-million-dollar plans to upgrade the water filtration system at Capilano Lake — one of three lakes used to supply Lower Mainland’s growing population with clean, safe water. The first two projects include a $25 milion seepage control blanket of clay and concrete on the east bank of the Cap reser- voir and a new $70 million water treatment fieility designed to disinfect water with ozone. There’s even talk-of nwo large tunnels running from the lake to link it with the Mount Seymour reservoir. But Olson maintains che Capilano watershed should be taken out of the water supply business and turned into a park. With the Lions looming over the lake, the Fark. he says, “would be a lasting legacy for Vancouver, just like Lake Louise is for Bantf. According to Olson, GVRD engincers are throwing, good money after bad ac the Capilano Lake-Cleveland Dam project. “The fact is thar at this very moment, the seepage problem at Cleveland Dam has increased to approximatziy 2,000 litres a minute,” says Olson, adding that the ground under the lake is not suitable for a water reservoir. “My concern is that they are going to spena ultimately $350 million on those projects.” GVRD manager of engineering and construction John Morse knows of Olson’s proposal, but maintains that Capilano lake is integral to the Lower Mainland’s future. “The Capilano reservoir plays a very important role in our water supply,” says Morse. “There’s a long-term water supply plan developed for the region. You just can’t start taking major building blocks our of the way.” Olson knows that by taking on the “keepers of the water” he is locking horns with one of the most powerful groups in the province. Ever since 1886, the vear the Vancouver Waterworks Company was formed, those who have controlled the area’s water supply have done so with impunity. In 1926, the all-powerful water commis- sioner, Ernest Cleveland, closed the watershed to public access. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield DENNIS Olson says the GVRD is making a mistake by using Capilano Lake as a reservoir. The Capilano and Seymour watersheds currently cach supply 40% of the water used by Lower Mainland residents; the remaining 20% comes from the Coquitlam watershed. “But the fact is the GVRD only utilizes 12% of the water avail- able in the watersheds,” savs Olson. His vision for the Capilano watershed is a compelling one. Simply put, he wants to shift the watershed infrastructure devel- opment to the Seymour and Coquitlam watersheds and in turn open up Capilano Lake to the public as a recreation area. “Phase out the Capilano watershed and redirect that $350 mil- fien to build a large new dam ar Sevmour Lake,” Olson says. As for the Coquitlam watershed, he savs BC Hydro, whieh cur- rently owns the Coquitlam dam, should sign over its water sights co the GVRD. Such a move would allow more water to be drawn from the Coquitlam reservoir. “With a provincial clection coming up, | think the government should insist on moral grounds, if not legal, char BC Hydro should forsake their water rights to Coquitlam Lake — it’s the best quality water of the three watersheds.” According to GVRD figures, Capilano Lake averages 54 days a year in which water turbidity exceeds sate limits. Sevmour aver- ages 18 days; Coquitlam averages four. In addition, Olson says the Coquitlam reservoir’s water capaci- ty is 10 times that of Capilano and Seymour — combined. “TE would drop the (Capilano) lake level to 100 feet (it is cur- rently in the 260-foot range}, or whatever level at which there is no longer a seepage problem and where if there is an earthquake we won't get a huge outflow of water down the river,” Olson says. “I would then create a recre- ational lake and build a fish ladder from the river to the lake.” Capilano Lake, he says, is inappropriate for increased filtration infrastructure because of the unstable ground on which the dam is built. He maintains thar an earthquake could be devastating for Cap’s filtration intrastructure -— and the homes downstream from Cleveland Dam. Bur, as mentioned, Olson knows time is running out. Once a few million dollars has been spent on the Capilano upgrade the GVRD vill have no choice but to continue with its expensive plans for the filtration sys And with Ontario premier Mike Harris — and taxpayers — estolling, the cost-sav- ing, efficient aspect of Metropolitan Toronto’s recent mega-city conversion, Olson fears that when (“not if”) the Lower Mainland follows suit the epportunity to create a park in Capilano Valley will be forever lost. And that, to Olson, is the real tragedy of what is happening today at the top of Capilane Road. Why is a prairie boy, one who came to the coast to work as a logger, so passion- ate about turning a watershed into a recreation area? “TF love Vancouver — this place is probably as close to heaven as it comes on earth,” Olson says. “The GVRD’s livable region plan called for guarding the quality of life in this magnificent region. Closing the Capilano water supply and turning it into a park would go a long way ir doing just that.” Capilano Valley through 1886: The City of Vancouver is incorporated and othe Vancouver Waterworks Company ¢VWC) is tormed toosupple water qrom the North Shore. 1888: Construction of the first dam and supply sestem begins 10.5 kin 6.4 miles) up the Capilano River from Burrard Inlet. 1889; The VWC system. is installed at an approximate cost of $300,000. 1906: The longest fhime i the Americas is completed from Sisters Creek (14.5 km long — 9.01 miles — and in operation for nine years}. 1907: Discussion of railway or tam logging in Capilano Valley begins. There is no other means of transporting timber in fog form to the inler. Shake bolts are flumed or floated down river. 1908: The Capilano Timber Company Ine. is formed and financed by a Washington group — the Nickey Brothers. 1969: In response to a grow- ing number of people ftre- quenting Capilano Valley (due to logging and reere- ation}, another hotel is built at the second canyon where Cleveland Dam is now situat- ed. Built by Pete Larson, the Canyon View Hotel is in operation from 1909 to 1950. 1910: A bad tlood on the Capilano River takes out the dam and intake 1.2 km down stream from anew intake. Only the Capilano Hotel remains at the old dani site. 1917; The Capilano Timber Company starts railway grades trom Burrard [Inlet vercth up the valley. Once the tracks are laid, the company begins bringing out timber. 1919; Capilano | Timber Company has 1) km (6.8 miles) of logging railway in operation (which eventually grows to 26 km — 16 miles). 1924: The Greater Vancouver Water District is formed and the watershed above the intake is closed to the public. 1927; The GVWD obrains a 999-vear lease on the water rights in the Capilano and Seymour watersheds. This is to protect: the valleys for future water supply. 1934: The Sisters Creek Logging Company is forced by the GVWD to leave the valley. 1943: Chlorination disinfee- tion is added to the water sup- plies, It was tried previously in 1932 when the Bridge River Power Company put trans- mission fines through the Capilano Vallev. 1951: Construction of Cleveland Dam begins at the second canyon — flooding Capilano Valley 5.5 km (3.4 miles) upstream. 1954: Cleveland Dam _ is built. The reservoir fills the dam 285 fect (87 m) above the bedrock (570 feet — 174 m— above sea level).