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The airport fence means more wildlife on the runway

The law of unintended consequences could mean the new fence blocking off access to the Columbia Flats will put deer on the airport runway.

Editor,

Re: Fencing to be installed to block access to Revelstoke airport area wetlands, revelstoketimesreview.com, News, Mar. 28

A few years ago a fence was constructed blocking off this area. After the Regional District realized what a mistake this fence was it was removed.

Many residents of the airport bench use this area for recreation. It is below the high water mark and thus not city or district property. Wild game uses this area all the time and if you block the access the game will be wandering around the runway searching for another way out. The only way you could securely block wildlife from the runway without fencing the airport itself would be to build about 20 km of fence block the entire east side of the valley from the north end of the runway to the rivers main channel, and from the south end of the runway to the rivers main channel.

The plan the airport now has will only hurt area residents and game and will do nothing to make the runway safer.

Stephen Busch,

Revelstoke