B.C. group fights for Peace, lower Fraser and Elk Rivers

The location of the proposed Site C Dam on the Peace River

This year, instead of naming the top 10 endangered rivers, as it usually does, the the Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia has tightened the focus to just three: the Peace, lower Fraser and Elk.

LINK (via: The Globe and Mail)

Canada mining expansion prompts fears of pollution flowing into Montana

Photo:waferboard

This story of heavy metals in the Elk River drainage of B.C. drawing  the attention of the EPA here in the states appeared in the Missoulian back in December of 2012.

Expansion plans at some Canadian coal mines have alarmed American officials over the amount of heavy metals pollution that could be flowing across the international border into Montana.

“We’re seeing increased selenium runoff from existing mining activity, that’s why we’re concerned,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional director Jim Martin. “We’ve had a number of formal and informal conversations with the (British Columbia) provincial government.”

The mines lie in the Elk River drainage, roughly 100 miles north of Whitefish. That river flows into Lake Koocanusa on the Montana side of the border. In addition to selenium and other heavy metals, the mines contribute high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that interfere with the river system’s aquatic life.

LINK (via: The Missoulian)

A new study released back in early March confirms the damage being done.

A study by University of Montana researchers shows that pollutants leeching into the heavily mined Elk River drainage in southeastern British Columbia have reached alarming levels, particularly as a metal-like element called selenium threatens critical fish habitat in Canada, as well as downstream in Montana.

LINK (via:Oregon Live)

Headwaters Montana is one of the groups on the front lines of this issue.

Wild and Scenic Rough Cut

This short video was shot in August of 2012 by Daniel Lombardi & Joel Harris; two MSUB Graduate students. Here's our opinion: THey made the video as an argument for more protection on the most amazing 1% of Montana's rivers.

We believe that the reasons to protect the water source of a continent are nearly infinite. Headwater streams are where the USA gets all of its drinking and irrigation water. It would be dangerous to our national security to allow these streams to become damaged. Furthermore, the value to our natural ecosystems provided by these steams is, in our opinion, incalculably high. There is no rational argument not to protect the best of our rivers.

At least 36 mining claims have been filed along a 30-mile stretch of the river

Idaho fly fishers and conservation groups are stepping up to back the Clearwater National Forest in challenging the rash of placer mining claims being filed for the North Fork of the Clearwater River.

Kathy Rodriguez, ranger of the North Fork District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, said suction dredge mining is incompatible with a number of other uses of the river and she will ask an administrative law judge from the U.S. Department of Interior to prohibit mining there.

LINK (via: The Spokesman-Review)

California Trout Awarded $650,000 Grant to Restore Hat Creek

Some great news for Hat Creek.

The California Natural Resources Agency has awarded a grant for $650,000 to California Trout to restore fish habitat and create new recreational opportunities in and around Hat Creek in Shasta County. The funding will support projects aimed at improving conditions for wild trout that were once abundant but have dropped to precariously low levels in recent years.

LINK

How the market can keep streams flowing

With streams and rivers drying up because of over-usage, Rob Harmon has implemented an ingenious market mechanism to bring back the water. Farmers and beer companies find their fates intertwined in the intriguing century-old tale of Prickly Pear Creek.