EIA figures incorrect say lake's supporters

A 6 C A L G A R Y H E R A L D , July 3 1 , 1 9 9 2 Let Editor: Bill Muss EIA figures incorrect say lake's supporters Re " Tory plans to raise Buffa­lo Lake face opposition," Vicki Barnett, Herald, July 5. The projected benefits of $ 13.6 million from the Buffalo Lake stabilization project out­weigh the costs, $ 13.1 million, and more than 90 per cent of the benefit accrues. to the Province. The benefit essentially results from incremental economic activ­ity occurring i n the community, which is paid for by the cottage arM lot owners, and which may not occur i f the water is not sta­bilized. Additionally, there are spin­off benefits which are not includ­ed i n the above numbers, such as employing unemployed laborers for construction, and increased tax revenues, which would fur­ther enhance the benefit. In various articles, including the above, The Herald reported the benefit/ cost ratio of the pro­ject, basing its figures on the original Environmental Impact Assessment report. However, at hearings held over a year ago our economist identified an error in the benefit calculation which was acknowl­edged by the author of the bene­fit/ cost report. These new num­bers are accepted as correct by a l l except those who are not aware that the calculation had been corrected. This project was under consid­eration long before Don Getty bought his property, which is not lake front, some three years ago. The majority of the cottage own­ers do not even vote in the Stet­tler riding yet his presence has attracted media coverage and po­litical criticism. We who live on the lake are concerned about its environ­ment. We recognize that both negative and positive impacts would occur, but after studying the E IA are satisfied that the negatives are either minor or mitigatable. Further, many of the negative impacts identified would be more severe without stabilization, in flood years. It is important to recognize that the stabilization proposal does not seek to create a new lake nor raise the water beyond historical levels. Rather, the stabilization project seeks to enhance the recreational and economic benefit of Buffalo Lake by eliminating nature's ex­tremes. C. J. C. PAGE, Pelican Point Community Association, Calgary.