Kettle River, Sacred Headwaters top B.C. endangered rivers list

The Kettle River and the headwaters of the Skeena, Nass, and Stikine rivers are the most endangered rivers in the province, according to the Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia.

Today (March 24), the coalition of outdoor groups released its 18th annual B.C. endangered rivers list.

“The Kettle River is confronted by an array of threats, the most note-worthy centering around excessive water withdrawal,” ORC rivers chair Mark Angelo stated in a backgrounder.

According to the backgrounder, the “most ominous project” threatening the Sacred Headwaters of the Skeena, Nass, and Stikine is a Shell Canada proposal to extract coal-bed methane gas.

The Fraser, Coquitlam, and Salmon are the only rivers running through Metro Vancouver that made the 2010 list.

Here’s the list of endangered rivers and the threats they face:

1. Kettle River (water extraction, development)

1. “Sacred Headwaters” of Skeena, Nass and Stikine (coalbed methane)

3. Coldwater River (water extraction, development)

4. Fraser River (urbanization, industrial development, pollution)

5. Peace River (hydro-electric dam proposal)

6. Similkameen River (cross border dam proposal)

7. Glacier/Howser Creeks (IPP proposal)

8. Elk River (development, increasing selenium levels, wildlife migration issues)

9. Coquitlam River (excessive sedimentation, urbanization)

10. Salmon River-Langley (excessive groundwater extraction, development)

11. Bute Inlet Rivers (IPP proposal)

Last year, the Flathead River led the list.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

Comments

2 Comments

joe fish head

Mar 24, 2010 at 7:24pm

is there any fish left before i take the wife and kids up there iam on a buget.

glen p robbins

Mar 24, 2010 at 7:34pm

Gordon Campbell is on his political deathbed--British Columbians who care about the environment are going to want to watch very closely the goings on between the premier--and his friends and associates--it's going to get selfish and greedy--and it will be difficult to rip up every agreement this enemy of the province intends to stick on the people--who know there isn't anything they can do to stop what will likely be a continued bevy of sweetheart deals good for a few wallets but bad for B.C and for British Columbians.