BC's Ten Most Endangered Rivers of 1999 BACKGROUNDER

The danger - The Taku's exceptional wilderness values are threatened by government approval of the Tulsequah Chief Mine and its associated 160 km access road through territory belonging to the Tlingit peoples. A dramatic increase in the region's annual allowable cut further compromises its ability to support a diverse array of habitats and species.

The problem - The short-term mine project (nine years) includes construction of a new mine tailings pond in an active floodplain above spawning grounds. Other concerns have focused on the impact of a new road through a previously unroaded watershed and how this will affect fisheries and wildlife. The construction of this road will allow for increased access to the Taku, opening up the watershed not only to increased mining (for example, the New Polaris project), but also to logging, hunting, and fishing pressures as well.

What's needed - The Taku represents an opportunity for Canadians to protect and retain the important wilderness values of one of the world's most beautiful rivers. While the other rivers on this list have already been damaged, the Taku is still essentially pristine. Recommendations for the Taku include carrying out a more thorough environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the road, as well as for certain aspects of the project such as the location and long-term maintenance of the tailings dam. Currently, inadequate wildlife baseline data has been collected, no effective monitoring programs have been put into place, and no community impact assessment has been conducted. The dissenting report of the Tlingit First Nation in response to the one issued by the Environmental Assessment Office was never addressed. Further review of the project should be done within the broader context of negotiations now taking place for a new Pacific Salmon Treaty. Both the federal and provincial governments should withdraw their approval of the project until these concerns are properly addressed. It is further recommended that there be the establishment of an International Watershed Board to closely monitor developments of transboundary rivers along the Alaska/Canada border, in order to solve future resource conflicts proactively between the US and Canada.

2. Theodosia River
The Theodosia River is located near Powell River and was considered to be one of the Georgia Strait's most productive fishing streams in the 1950's. This river sustained runs of 100 000 pinks, 50 000 chum, 10 000 coho, and significant numbers of steelhead and chinook. The Theodosia is located within the traditional territory of the Sliammon First Nation, and the river and its salmon were a vital part of the Sliammon culture.

The problem - MacMillan Bloedel was issued a water license for the Theodosia in 1956 during an era when fishery resources appeared infinite. The license allowed M &B to divert 80% of the water from the Theodosia into Powell Lake. Today the dam is owned by Pacifica Papers, and continues to have severe environmental impacts while providing only marginal benefits in terms of power produced. It has been estimated that the environmental cost of this diversion is 10 times greater than its benefits when lost revenues from the Georgia Strait fishery are taken into consideration. Consequently, from an environmental, cultural, recreational and economic perspective, it makes sense to dismantle this dam. Conservation groups and the Sliammon First Nation are asking the provincial government to negotiate an agreement with Pacifica Papers in order for this to occur.

What's needed - The dismantling of the Theodosia dam would present one of the best opportunities in the Georgia Strait to reclaim damaged habitat and lost salmon stocks. Removing this dam would not only benefit the Theodosia River, but would set the stage for removing other out-dated dams in BC and Canada. Of the more than 2000 dams in British Columbia, an estimated 300 have either outlived their usefulness all together, or provide only marginal benefits while continuing to cause major environmental problems.

The danger - Fish and wildlife habitat have been severely impacted throughout the watershed by a variety of land and industrial uses. Water quality has deteriorated and fish stocks, particularly steelhead, have declined to dangerously low levels.

The problem - The Tsolum-Puntledge watershed has been adversely impacted by virtually the full spectrum of industrial and land uses. Acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination from an abandoned mine on Mt. Washington continue to affect water quality. Poor logging practices have increased sediment loads, and have dramatically altered the hydrology of the watershed. Excessive amounts of gravel, essential for spawning purposes, have been removed from the Tsolum for runway construction at CFB Comox. The urbanization of the lower parts of the watershed has constricted and channelled the lower river, providing few places where juvenile salmon can hide from predating seals. Large amounts of water are withdrawn for agriculture purposes and the Puntledge River hydro dams have had a significant impact on natural flow regimes.

All of these developments have taken a heavy toll on salmonid populations (particularly steelhead and coho) and, like many waterways on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the future health and existence of these stocks is now in question. This point is further emphasized by a 1998 snorkel survey for steelhead carried out along 6 kilometres of the Puntledge River that did not detect a single fish.

What's needed - Rectifying many of the problems that plague this system will require a watershed approach involving all stakeholders. While some positive initiatives have been taken, such as the placement of fish screens in BC Hydro's penstocks, there is still much to do. This will require the involvement of all sectors, including local governments as well as the agriculture and forestry sectors. Specific, long-standing issues must also be dealt with ranging from the clean-up of the old mine site on Mt. Washington to the development of a new Water Use Plan (including a cold water release facility) for the Puntledge hydro dams.

In addition, a risk-averse recreational fishing strategy must continue to be employed, as well as an extremely selective commercial ocean fishery. Habitat and restoration efforts must be expanded and, while there has been a significant focus on both hatchery facilities and spawning channels, efforts should also be expanded to rekindle wild stocks of steelhead. While some factors contributing to declining fish stocks such as ocean warming may be beyond our immediate control, an emphasis should be placed on the things we can control, such as protecting and restoring habitat.

The danger - A rapid and large scale conversion of naturally functioning tributary watersheds and their riparian zones into effective impervious areas (large areas covered by concrete and asphalt) has occurred. Silt and sediment inflows from major gravel mining operations is also a major concern.

The problem - Large areas covered by concrete and asphalt dramatically affect the river runoff and hydrology. Furthermore, large scale gravel mining operations have taken a serious toll on the Coquitlam River. On roughly 220 days per year, silt and sediment levels taken downstream of mining operations exceed those levels considered damaging to salmon and trout. These higher levels of sediment can be directly attributable to gravel mining operations. In the lower parts of the Coquitlam where it enters the Fraser, the river bed has risen four feet due to sediment loads settling out as the river slows. Chinook, Sockeye and Pink salmon runs have all been wiped out from this river.

What's needed - The issue of sediment runoff from nearby gravel mining operations must be addressed. A more concerted effort on the part of federal, provincial, and local governments is required to restore the Coquitlam River back to health, and to permanently remedy the river's preventable man-made pollution problems. Community stewardship groups have been working tirelessly to restore fish stocks in this river, and their efforts should be commended and supported. Volunteers from Port Coquitlam & District Hunting and Fishing Club have been working as a stop-gap since 1977 to restore Coquitlam River salmon and trout populations to historical levels. This volunteer work includes on-going community outreach and public education activities, a once-a-month full page community funded ad by RACE for the Coquitlam River watershed in a local paper, and "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" ratings by River Watch volunteers.

The danger - Conditions in the Fraser are improving but much still needs to be done. Concerns remain about the loss of fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, groundwater management, the management of fish resources, and the large scale removal of gravel.

The problem - Rapid urbanization, urban runoff, sewage, extensive logging in the Fraser's headwaters (eg. the Robson Valley), industrial pollution, and agricultural runoff continue to negatively impact the river.

What's needed - Effective regulations under the new Fish Protection Act are needed to provide greater legislative protection for the Fraser System. The watershed approach to management, which is being advocated by many grassroots organizations, must be encouraged and supported by all levels of government. The Forest Practices Code should be more strictly adhered to so that riparian zones are better protected in the Fraser's tributaries. Also, a pollution permitting system which deals with the cumulative impacts rather than source points is needed. Finally, a gravel dredging budget for the lower river must be established and decisions pertaining to gravel dredging must be made in a more open and transparent manner.

Notables - Studies indicate that the Fraser could produce much higher numbers of fish if threats from competing uses for the river can be managed, water quality improved, and damaged fish habitat restored.

The danger - Increased access and industrial activity threaten important wildlife and wilderness values along both the Stikine and Iskut Rivers. Economic activities, including wilderness tourism, fishing, trapping, and guiding that depend on wildlife and wilderness values are consequently threatened.

The problem - The Iskut-Stikine is facing a myriad of threats, not the least of which is the dramatic increase in the Cassiar Forest District Allowable Annual Cut. The Stikine watershed will be under growing pressure to meet this increased demand despite warnings from scientists and foresters that northern boreal forests may not be able to recover from extensive clear cutting. Much of the increased logging will come from the northern temperate rainforests in the lower Stikine and Iskut. This area contains some of BC's red and blue-listed animals and plant communities, notably marbled murrelets, pine martens, giant Sitka spruce, and grizzly bears. The entire Iskut River provides sporadic ice-free wetlands that are winter and early spring habitat for Trumpeter Swans.

Also of concern is mine development and associated road building that will increase access to this formerly pristine wilderness. In addition to mine development and roading is the planned diversion of up to 100 percent of the Iskut River to provide for hydroelectric generation for the Bronson Slope mine development.

What's needed - A thorough watershed and hydrological assessment is needed before further development takes place in the watershed. These assessments must include complete inventories of wildlife and plant species.

Notables - The Grand Canyon of the Stikine, about 100 km long and in some places over 330m high, is Canada's longest and deepest canyon. The Stikine was also a major, all-Canadian route to the Klondike. Towns at Glenora and Telegraph Creek once had populations numbering in the thousands. Remnants of this activity can still be found in the area.

The danger - Urban development and activities associated with urban areas (eg. sewage disposal, industrial waste disposal, construction of roads and buildings) are negatively impacting vital habitat for fish and wildlife. Also, green space that provides important health and social benefits, is being impacted. Urban runoff also remains as a serious threat to local streams.

The problem - Unsympathetic removal of natural elements (eg., vegetation, gravel deposits) for housing, roads, and other development has negatively impacted fish and wildlife habitat, spawning beds, and water quality. Many streams have suffered from the removal of streamside vegetation, which not only provides shade for spawning and rearing areas, but also acts as a filter preventing sediment and pollutants from entering directly into a stream. Pollution, including sewage, also enters many waterways which further affects water quality. The majority of the streams are, or were, prime spawning grounds for various runs of salmon, including coho. Many streams continue to support resident cutthroat trout.

What's needed - The province needs to develop and implement regulations under the Fish Protection Act. Local governments must co-operate in an effort to make this legislation work. The BC government should continue to fund the Urban Salmon Habitat Program. In addition, more local governments should enact environmental bylaws that control sediment levels, activities in riparian zones, and pollution from farm and roadway runoff. This is especially true for the upper Fraser Valley section of the Lower Mainland, where municipalities with a pro-development agenda risk making the same devastating mistakes as their downstream counterparts did earlier this century. For example, of Vancouver's original sixty-plus streams virtually all have been buried in pipes under the city.

Notables - There are 142 salmon runs that are now extinct and several hundred more that are in danger of becoming extinct. The majority of the extinct runs are in rivers and streams that empty into the Georgia Strait from both the Lower Mainland and eastern Vancouver Island.

The danger - World class fishing is found along the banks of these rivers, and this area is increasingly becoming recognized by the international community as a prime tourist destination. However, both these rivers are facing dramatic expansion of road development and a rapid increase in logging activity. As a result, both habitat and fish stocks are now declining, which could threaten the area's tourism economy.

The problem - Skeena and Sustut salmon stocks are declining as a result of over-fishing and habitat degradation. Declining water quality can be related to increased forestry, agricultural, and industrial activity in the area. Other areas of concern include poor waste management practices and the impact of transportation corridors on the natural flow regimes of the rivers.

What's needed - A more comprehensive, and "fish friendly", management plan is required to deal with the pressing problems facing the Skeena and Sustut rivers. Such a plan must adequately focus on the protection of fish habitat while continuing to provide quality recreational experiences.

The danger - Both summer and winter runs of steelhead remain at high risk, and it is expected that there will be no sports fishery for steelhead for at least the next several years.

The problem - The impacts of excessive logging on hydrology and channel stability have been dramatic. Summer rearing conditions for fish have been degraded, and sediment infilling has caused a decrease in the availability of fish-food organisms such as larval aquatic insects. Lack of larval aquatic insects has reduced the river's overall productivity for fish growth and survival. In addition, the Chemainus faces the potential threat of new mining ventures, ranging from hard rock, zinc and copper mines to placer gold operations.

What's needed - A recovery plan needs to be developed for this area, and financial support for the implementation of this plan is required.

The danger - Fish resources are threatened by irregular water flows from a number of dams within the Columbia watershed.

The problem - Inadequate water releases from the Brilliant and Keenleyside dams continue to adversely impact fish resources including white sturgeon. While the Columbia Basin Trust was established to compensate for the effects of the Columbia River Treaty dams, it has spent little money on rehabilitation and mitigation projects to date.

What's needed - Proceed with developing Water Use Plans for specific dams as promised by the provincial government in November of 1996. Local fish and game clubs have been calling for the completion of Water Use Plans at the Keenleyside and Revelstoke dams for several years, but the Provincial government has yet to move on this recommendation.

Notables - The 80km stretch of river downstream of the Keenleyside dam to just south of the Canada/US border is one of only two undammed stretches of the Columbia mainstem in Canada and the US.