[All] Write to save Hidden Valley and request LEAF grant

[Daphne NICHOLLS]

Hi GREN members,
At tonight's GREN meeting I was encouraged to ask you to write  to Kitchener Council suggesting that they use the remaining Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) money to purchase Hidden Valley. So I apologize for asking you to write, twice this week, but it's a worthy suggestion for those of you who haven't written yet.
 
The KW Field Naturalists are writing as an organization, and individuals too. I wondered if GREN would consider a letter from the group. I've contacted two hiking groups in the area, and they're copying their members,  and we've sent the request to all our friends and other contacts.  
 
One of the Kitchener Councillors has said they hope their "in box"  will be full of letters ! Now really is the time for as many people as possible to write.


 
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Hi friends of Hidden Valley, friends of clean water and air, 
 










The lead editorial in Saturday's Record (link below) recommends that those people who care about saving Hidden Valley, Kitchener as a "Natural Area Park" should contact their councillors now. Suggest to Kitchener Councillors that the remaining LEAF money be used to buy Hidden Valley. (Local Environmental Action Fund) Please, write while the issue's hot! 
 
 Write your councillor, in fact, copy all the councillors and Mayor Carl Zehr: council at kitchener.ca and/or write the Editor, John Roe ( jroe at therecord.com), in response to the article. If you're short on time, you could simply say "I agree with  the Record editorial of January 21st, 2012: We must preserve Hidden Valley".   

If you live in Waterloo, or Cambridge, your councillors can encourage the Region to take a stronger stand, especially to protect Regional drinking water if the River Rd. extension goes ahead:  For all  Regional Councillors and Chair Seiling:  council at region.waterloo.on.ca. (Or it might be the pluralcouncillors at region.waterloo.on.ca , if it bounces back. Sorry)
 
If you'd like to write a longer letter, here is a bit more background information.
 
Hidden Valley is much more than a beautiful area of woods, fields and Provincially Significant wetlands. It's 200 acres of healthy ecosystems which impact our water and air quality. Water and air impact our health, and therefore our economy. Hidden Valley's worth as "Natural Capital" should be evaluated, before any development or road construction occurs in the area.
 
Without clean water to drink and clean air to breathe, what else will matter?
 
Water: The water from the three Provincially Significant Wetlands in Hidden Valley enters the Grand River, right where 22% of the Region's  drinking water is piped out and sent to Manheim for treatment. Any contaminants from development, roads and parking lots would end up there. But not all contaminants, including road salt, oil and gasoline can be removed, so surely the precautionary principle should apply. That would mean that the business parks (zoned B1 and B2, which could include manufacturing) and the subdivision which are permitted in Hidden Valley, should NOT be constructed. This beautiful and biodiverse ecosystem is simply too valuable, just as it is! The zoning bylaws  were established 24 years ago are out-of-date: current zoning standards, would not permit this kind of development. Hidden Valley needs to be rezoned. 
 
Air: The construction of the River Rd. extension, including new ramps onto highway 8, would require clearcutting a large portion of the mature forest near highway 8. The Grand River Conservation Authority recommends forest coverage of 30%, but  Kitchener has less than 12% forest coverage. Trees produce oxygen and remove an equal volume of carbon dioxide. How much does your councillor think we should value of this natural air purifying system, when air pollution in KW is the worst in the province? 

 
Parks: At a time when the population of Waterloo Region is going to increase by 200,000 people in the next 19 years, we need a variety of parks for recreational needs. Hidden Valley, with it's wonderful wildflowers, nesting and migratory birds, and beautiful hills and valleys is an oasis in the heart of the Region. We need more parks, not fewer parks. Let's preserve Hidden Valley.
 
Please send an email and then circulate this request to as many of your friends as possible. As the Record states, now is the time to speak up. 
 
Thank you! 
 
Sincerely,
 
Daphne Nicholls 
gordanddaph at sympatico.ca



















 
 
Waterloo Region Record, Saturday, January 21, 2012

Let's preserve Hidden Valley
http://www.therecord.com/opinion/editorial/article/658865--let-s-preserve-hidden-valley 



 








  		 	   		  
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