Upper Pitt River tops 2008 list of B.C.'s most-endangered rivers

Glenda Luymes
The Province


Sunday, March 23, 2008
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=e438cec2-06d9-4562-8345-5dd\
401637a5e



CREDIT: Arlen Redekop - The Province
Environmentalists Gwen Barlee and Joe Foy at Pitt Lake. They are
against a proposal to dam the lake's feeder rivers and build power lines through
a nearby park.

The Upper Pitt River tops this year's list of most-endangered rivers in B.C.

The annual list, compiled by the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. based on
public nominations, also includes the Fraser River between Hope and Mission and
the Flathead River in southeastern B.C.

"The problems outlined in this year's list are extensive and diverse," said the
council's Mark Angelo, adding that "things can still be turned around if there
is a strong enough will to do so."

Many of the 12 rivers on the list are threatened by industry and development.
The Upper Pitt is currently being considered for a controversial private-power
proposal that would cause the diversion of water from eight tributary creeks
into seven small dams.

"The clustering of power projects along the Upper Pitt has raised serious
concerns about the potential for adverse impacts to the river and its fish
stocks," explained Angelo.

The council is also concerned about construction of a 4.3-kilometre transmission
line through a wilderness section of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.

"The Upper Pitt is a jewel amongst B.C.'s many spectacular waterways and, given
its great ecological values, the river and its major tributaries should be
protected from development," the council's river chairman added.

For the 15th time in 16 years, the Fraser River cracked the list's top five. The
council is worried about the section of the river between Hope and Mission --
"one of the most productive sections of river anywhere in the world," according
to Angelo -- where increasing urbanization, pollution and sewage and industrial
development are all concerns.

Tied with the Fraser for second place, the Flathead River, near the border of
southeastern B.C. and Montana, supports numerous fish species and one of the
highest-density inland grizzly-bear populations in North America. While the
American section of the river is protected, the Canadian section is threatened
by the proposed Cline open-pit coal mine. It is feared the huge mine could
compromise water quality at its headwaters.

"While mining is a major industry in our province, many British Columbians also
believe that there are places with exceptional values that are just not
appropriate to mine -- and the Flathead River is one of them," said Angelo.

The list was compiled after the council solicited nominations from its member
groups, totalling about 120,000 people, as well as the general public.
Submissions were reviewed by a panel of river

conservationists.

gluymes@...

Endangered rivers '08

1. Upper Pitt River (proposed independent power project).

2. Flathead River, (proposed coal mine, coal-bed methane development).

2. Fraser River, (urbanization, sewage, pollution, industrial development).

4. Taku River (proposed mine, acid-mine drainage).

5. Peace River (proposed hydroelectric dam).

6. Headwaters of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine rivers (proposed coal-bed methane
development).

7. Kettle River (water extraction, proposed power project).

8. Coquitlam River (urbanization, excessive sedimentation).

9. Glacier/Howser creeks (proposed power project).

10. Coldwater River (water extraction).

11. Okanagan River (water extraction, channelization, urban encroachment,
riparian habitat loss).

12. Salmon River (low flows, pine beetle, riverside habitat loss).

13. Little Campbell River (agricultural impacts, water-quality concerns).


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]