Comments for Zac Whyte | Community Builder & Media Maker http://www.zacwhyte.com Zac Whyte is a videographer, photographer, community builder and global studies educator specializing in issues of concious community development. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:08:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on Have you ever thought about why water meters are a good idea in the CVRD? by Zac http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/11/watermeters1/#comment-301 Zac Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:08:02 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2388#comment-301 1. Not at all Mike - our glacier is losing ground every year and water shortage due to climate change and/or contamination in addition to population growth and development are eminent under existing regulations and usage trends. The water level has been monitored by BC Hydro well enough that, to my knowledge, the Puntledge River has never stopped flowing. I think preparations (infrastructure, monitoring, and efficiency education) should be made to ensure we have enough flow each year - if Mother Nature is kind enough to give it to us. 2.Yes. More development and population growth will require larger infrastructure such as reservoirs, larger pipes and pumps to meet the existing service standard of UNLIMITED in-house water use. We currently have exterior water restrictions but there is currently no way to accurately monitor or enforce water restrictions inside residences, commercial or industrial properties. 3. At this point the dam is sufficient to meet the needs of all three entities: Hydro, Fisheries, and the CVRD. Raising the dam would compromise housing, access roads, bridges and parks. Lowering it could be extremely expensive and environmentally detrimental downstream. It's not really a realistic option, as this blog suggests. Of course dams like everything else eventually need serious repair or replacement. Maybe an earthquake will make that decision for us. I'm hopeful it won't. *knocking wood* 1. Not at all Mike – our glacier is losing ground every year and water shortage due to climate change and/or contamination in addition to population growth and development are eminent under existing regulations and usage trends. The water level has been monitored by BC Hydro well enough that, to my knowledge, the Puntledge River has never stopped flowing. I think preparations (infrastructure, monitoring, and efficiency education) should be made to ensure we have enough flow each year – if Mother Nature is kind enough to give it to us.

2.Yes. More development and population growth will require larger infrastructure such as reservoirs, larger pipes and pumps to meet the existing service standard of UNLIMITED in-house water use. We currently have exterior water restrictions but there is currently no way to accurately monitor or enforce water restrictions inside residences, commercial or industrial properties.

3. At this point the dam is sufficient to meet the needs of all three entities: Hydro, Fisheries, and the CVRD. Raising the dam would compromise housing, access roads, bridges and parks. Lowering it could be extremely expensive and environmentally detrimental downstream. It’s not really a realistic option, as this blog suggests. Of course dams like everything else eventually need serious repair or replacement. Maybe an earthquake will make that decision for us. I’m hopeful it won’t. *knocking wood*

]]> Comment on Have you ever thought about why water meters are a good idea in the CVRD? by Mike Couture http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/11/watermeters1/#comment-300 Mike Couture Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:55:23 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2388#comment-300 1. So, are you saying that the availability of water supplied by Mother Nature is not the issue, i.e., there will always be sufficient water coming into Comox Lake to keep it at the level required to meet all the area's demands. (Your paper indicates, if I read it correctly, that the lake's water level does not, nor is it ever expected to drop below the 4.53 meter dam level.) (If so, those who say that we live in a rainforest are justified in implying that the quantity of naturally available water is not the problem.) 2. The problem, if I read your paper correctly and if I understand your two "realistic choices", is thus solely related to the distribution and treatment of the water required to satisfy growing demands after that water leaves Comox Lake, i. e., the problem lies with the growing infrastructure needs/costs after (downstream from) the dam. Am I correct? 3. Also, there is no need, nor is a need foreseen, to modify the current dam. Correct? Thanks. 1. So, are you saying that the availability of water supplied by Mother Nature is not the issue, i.e., there will always be sufficient water coming into Comox Lake to keep it at the level required to meet all the area’s demands. (Your paper indicates, if I read it correctly, that the lake’s water level does not, nor is it ever expected to drop below the 4.53 meter dam level.) (If so, those who say that we live in a rainforest are justified in implying that the quantity of naturally available water is not the problem.)
2. The problem, if I read your paper correctly and if I understand your two “realistic choices”, is thus solely related to the distribution and treatment of the water required to satisfy growing demands after that water leaves Comox Lake, i. e., the problem lies with the growing infrastructure needs/costs after (downstream from) the dam. Am I correct?
3. Also, there is no need, nor is a need foreseen, to modify the current dam. Correct?
Thanks.

]]> Comment on Comox Valley’s Turkey Dilemma by Kim http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/11/2427/#comment-282 Kim Sun, 27 Nov 2011 04:44:54 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2427#comment-282 I love the, "don't be a tool" line - seriously, genius writing. I am still laughing and typing at the same time. Just wanted to commiserate with you and say - things could always be worse - you could live in Canada's rainforest and see your council support an indoor ice rink. Seriously! These people think that an indoor ice rink will keep families from leaving Tofino. I hear you loud and clear Zac! I love the, “don’t be a tool” line – seriously, genius writing. I am still laughing and typing at the same time. Just wanted to commiserate with you and say – things could always be worse – you could live in Canada’s rainforest and see your council support an indoor ice rink. Seriously! These people think that an indoor ice rink will keep families from leaving Tofino. I hear you loud and clear Zac!

]]> Comment on Have you ever thought about why water meters are a good idea in the CVRD? by Evan Gough http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/11/watermeters1/#comment-277 Evan Gough Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:01:56 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2388#comment-277 Zac, this is the clearest, most informative description of the CV water supply issue I've ever read. I live in Cumberland, but this is still very interesting to me. Thanks. Zac, this is the clearest, most informative description of the CV water supply issue I’ve ever read. I live in Cumberland, but this is still very interesting to me. Thanks.

]]> Comment on Have you ever thought about why water meters are a good idea in the CVRD? by Wendy Prothero http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/11/watermeters1/#comment-276 Wendy Prothero Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:10:25 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2388#comment-276 Thanks so much for this carefully thought out analysis of our water system. We have volunteered to have a water meter installed and are enjoying tracking our usage and comparing it to the general community usage. Having sat on the Comox Lake Watershed Interest Group for many years I am well aware of the pressures our system is under. I hope your site is viewed far and wide.Thanks again. Thanks so much for this carefully thought out analysis of our water system. We have volunteered to have a water meter installed and are enjoying tracking our usage and comparing it to the general community usage. Having sat on the Comox Lake Watershed Interest Group for many years I am well aware of the pressures our system is under. I hope your site is viewed far and wide.Thanks again.

]]> Comment on The Quintessence of Blackfin Pub by Dana Uhl-Griffiths http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/09/the-quintessence-of-blackfin-pub/#comment-220 Dana Uhl-Griffiths Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:09:42 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=2060#comment-220 GREAT piece of work on the Black Fin Zac! Congrats! This is a very integral location for us Comoxians so great to see such an exceptional clip! Well done! Dana GREAT piece of work on the Black Fin Zac! Congrats! This is a very integral location for us Comoxians so great to see such an exceptional clip! Well done!

Dana

]]> Comment on End The Use Of Child Soldiers: The HEAL Project’s First Video by Jane Victoria King http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/06/end-the-use-of-child-soldiers-the-heal-projects-first-video/#comment-214 Jane Victoria King Sat, 25 Jun 2011 22:04:12 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=1962#comment-214 Great work Zac! I've shared!!! Great work Zac! I’ve shared!!!

]]> Comment on The Idea That Will Change The World by Taylor Conroy http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/06/the-idea-that-will-change-the-world-taylor-conroys-teninthree-com/#comment-200 Taylor Conroy Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:01:48 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=1968#comment-200 Thanks brother! I love the banner. Stoked to see you again soon man. Will be coming up to start an Early Entrepreneur Experiment in Duncan soon. That will be a BLAST. Talk soon my man. T Thanks brother! I love the banner. Stoked to see you again soon man. Will be coming up to start an Early Entrepreneur Experiment in Duncan soon. That will be a BLAST.

Talk soon my man.

T

]]> Comment on The Art Of Charity Warfare: A Princely Application of Machiavellian Principals by Sue Moen http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/05/the-art-of-charity-warfare-a-princely-application-of-machiavellian-principals/#comment-190 Sue Moen Mon, 16 May 2011 13:58:37 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=1941#comment-190 Zac, this has become the way of too, too many non-profits/NGO's. One of my disillusionments with the sector is that it has been forced to adopt so many corporate structures to survive that many agencies are now in the business of staying in business rather than achieving their missions. I would rather heed the words 'there is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come' (author escapes my memory right now) and work at the grassroots level with small groups of committed people to make the changes necessary to bring about the world we deserve. Zac, this has become the way of too, too many non-profits/NGO’s. One of my disillusionments with the sector is that it has been forced to adopt so many corporate structures to survive that many agencies are now in the business of staying in business rather than achieving their missions. I would rather heed the words ‘there is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come’ (author escapes my memory right now) and work at the grassroots level with small groups of committed people to make the changes necessary to bring about the world we deserve.

]]> Comment on The Al Gore Climate Project In The Comox Valley by lavon paquet http://www.zacwhyte.com/index.php/2011/05/the-al-gore-climate-project-in-the-comox-valley/#comment-184 lavon paquet Mon, 09 May 2011 05:41:36 +0000 http://www.zacwhyte.com/?p=1608#comment-184 Personly i thought you guys did an amazing job on the presentation today but fell it is fair to say that almost ever teenager in the gym knew has heard over and over again exactly what you were saying. The problem is that kids are just to caught up in video games and partying to do anything about it. WE NEED TO START GETTING INTERACTIVE, RALLIES, PETITIONS, FUN EVENTS, THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE CHANGING. This summer i hope to get more involved with you guys with a trying to get more kids to have fun saving the world, because that's what it's all about. Please comment or write me an email. Personly i thought you guys did an amazing job on the presentation today but fell it is fair to say that almost ever teenager in the gym knew has heard over and over again exactly what you were saying. The problem is that kids are just to caught up in video games and partying to do anything about it. WE NEED TO START GETTING INTERACTIVE, RALLIES, PETITIONS, FUN EVENTS, THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE CHANGING. This summer i hope to get more involved with you guys with a trying to get more kids to have fun saving the world, because that’s what it’s all about. Please comment or write me an email.

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