On Silence and Trees

I have been noticing that Salmon Arm is a lot noisier than James Bay, despite Victoria's size.

On each of my walks in the last few days, the most present thing in my ears has been the roar of traffic. The mountains around the Bay act like a reverberating echo chamber.

Trail through ravine, Gardom Lake Park

One of the things I enjoyed when I lived at Gardom Lake was the wonderful silence of the forest there.

Noise in Salmon Arm comes from the highway and from various collector roads.

Highway traffic brakes as it comes down the hill, and accelerates to head up the hill or to leave town.

Even after vehicles have left Salmon Arm travelling west they continue to be heard. Their roar travels across the lake as they move around the bay.

So what can we do about urban noise?

I am convinced that tree planting to muffle and absorb sound is one action that might make a difference.

In Salmon Arm, the streets that I have been walking have lost trees in the last five years, with the pace of new development.

New rental units being built in Salmon Arm
Site clearing resulted in the loss of some trees

BC Statistics estimates that last year Salmon Arm's growth rate exceeded 10%.

Clearing for new residential development near 20th St SE, Salmon Arm
Note the public walking trail on the right. Connectors like this add to Salmon Arm's walkability.

New hotel under construction by the Trans Canada Highway
An old plum orchard along with Douglas firs were removed for this development

This development along the shore of the lake, next to the Prestige Hotel, required the removal of 13 large willows, seen below.

The willows just leafing out in the background of this image have since been removed for the development below

The loss of trees with development is making Salmon Arm noisier. In principle I support infill. A more dense community becomes a more walkable community, if done in ways that facilitate and encourage walking. And a more dense community helps the viability of public transit.

But - there is no need to lose trees with increased density. I see James Bay as a good example of what can be done.

Fence built around tree, James Bay

Based on what I saw in my walks, the residents there have a love affair with trees.

Another fence built around a tree, James Bay

This tree in Fairfield has become part of the house's funky design.

Massive fir retained with high rise construction.
Notice there is also foliage from a cedar in the left of the image.

High rise surrounded with large trees, Douglas Street

Not everyone loves or appreciates trees. Over 200 years ago William Blake wrote, "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way."

Trees removed and replaced with xeriscaping, Salmon Arm

So, it's a question of perception. Perhaps we take trees for granted in Salmon Arm because there are so many visible on the slopes of the mountains which surround us.

The thicket of trees in the photo below has an older house located in its midst. Relatively close to the core, will these trees too be lost? I hope not. Every time I walk past them I hear songbirds and flickers.

It's time that in our urban core we protect and value trees more.