RIVERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Scientists Warn B.C. Mining Rush Would Harm Alaska and B.C. Salmon, Clean Water

For Immediate Release
15 November 2011

Contacts (bios below):
Jim Pojar, PhD – (250) 847-9429, jpojar@telus.net
Jack Stanford, PhD – (406) 982-3301, ext 236, jack.stanford@umontana.edu
Mike Fay, PhD – (907) 254-1902, mfay@uuplus.net
Tadzio Richards, Rivers Without Borders, (250) 842-8169, tadzio@riverswithoutborders.org
Chris Zimmer, Rivers Without Borders, (907) 586-2166, zimmer@riverswithoutborders.org

DOWNLOADABLE MAPS – Current Development within Northwest BC and Southeast Alaska and Current and Proposed Development within Northwest BC and Southeast Alaska

Northwest Transmission Line could spur multiple new mines, dams and coal-bed methane projects in pristine region known for world-class salmon, scenery and wildlife

Letter of concern about proposed development in the transboundary watersheds

Hazelton, British Columbia – In a letter to British Columbia Premier Christy Clark today, 36 scientists asked for her leadership to balance impending industrial development in northwest B.C. with the outstanding fish, wildlife and ecological values of this largely pristine region. Of particular concern are the impacts to clean water and salmon runs in B.C. and southeast Alaska. Spurred by BC Hydro’s Northwest Transmission Line (NTL), which has received environmental approvals, the rush is on to build mines, river-diversion hydroelectric dams and coal-bed methane energy projects that could radically transform the region.

“The consequences for salmon runs on both sides of the border could be devastating, yet Alaskans would see none of the economic benefit and have no seat at the table,” said Mike Fay PhD, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence who lives along the U.S. portion of the Unuk River just downstream of the B.C. border.

Among the well-documented impacts of mining is acid rock drainage, a chemical chain reaction created when discarded rock and tailings are exposed to air and water. The process can go on for decades at both operating and abandoned mines. Just one of the proposed mines, the Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell mine in the Unuk River watershed, is expected to produce at least 2.1 billion tons of waste rock and tailings over its lifetime. The B.C. government has failed to stop 50 years of acid mine drainage from the idle Tulsequah Chief Mine into the Taku, southeast Alaska’s most productive salmon river.

“Northwest B.C. is home to pristine, free-flowing rivers that provide some of the last, best habitat for salmon in North America,” said Jack Stanford PhD, of the University of Montana. “Unfortunately, we don’t yet have the baseline scientific understanding needed to balance ecosystem health with impending industrial development.”

Map of current and proposed development within Northwest BC and Southeast Alaska

The lack of science is accompanied by a failure of the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office to ensure energy and mining companies follow through on environmental commitments. According to a recent report by the independent Auditor General of British Columbia, “adequate monitoring and enforcement of certified projects is not occurring and follow-up evaluations are not being conducted.”

Furthermore, the B.C. government currently does not have an adequate process in place to assess the cumulative impacts of the multiple industrial projects planned for the transboundary region.

“Without an assessment of the cumulative impacts of this wave of new mining and energy proposals, the British Columbia government could unwittingly sacrifice some of the best salmon and wildlife habitat left in North America,” said Jim Pojar PhD, who spent 25 years with the B.C. Forest Service and is a member of the Association of Professional Biology of B.C.

The southern part of the B.C.-Alaska transboundary region is home to species of concern such as grizzly bear and wolverine, as well as caribou, mountain goat, and Stone’s sheep. The largely pristine Stikine, Iskut and Unuk rivers are home to runs of all five species of Pacific salmon, which support subsistence fishing and commercial fishing jobs in both B.C. and Alaska.

The scientists’ letter reads: “The scale and intensity of proposed development certainly will fragment the watersheds with roads, transmission lines, river diversion projects, and open pit mines. Habitat for salmon and other wildlife will be destroyed at the development sites. Cumulative impacts likely will cascade throughout the watersheds in the form of altered flow and temperature patterns, disturbance to wildlife interacting with roads, and reduced water quality associated with sedimentation and acid mine drainage.”

Water quality, salmon habitat, and salmon populations on both sides of the border are at risk. Currently no organization or government has addressed the huge scope of ecological and social issues at stake. “Before further development is approved,” reads the scientist’s letter, “British Columbia must initiate a comprehensive assessment of potential cumulative impacts arising from the multiple development proposals in the watersheds.”

Nearly a dozen large mining projects are proposed for the transboundary watersheds in B.C., including the Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell mine on a tributary of the Unuk River; Galore Creek and Shaft Creek mines on tributaries of the Stikine River; and the Red Chris mine at the headwater lakes of the Iskut River. A 195 megawatt river diversion hydroelectric project is under construction on the Iskut River, and numerous other hydroelectric projects are proposed for the region. In addition, Royal Dutch Shell has proposed to develop coal-bed methane at the headwaters of the Stikine River.

Dr. Jim Pojar has extensive professional experience in applied conservation biology, forest ecology, sustainable forest management, ecological land classification, and conservation, with a wealth of field experience throughout British Columbia. He is a leading expert in climate action planning in British Columbia. Dr. Pojar can be reached at: 250-847-9429, email: jpojar@telus.net

Dr. Mike Fay works as a biologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society and is an Explorer in Residence for National Geographic. He is a renowned conservationist who has brought international attention to pristine and threatened landscapes in Gabon, Congo, and the Pacific Coast of North America. A resident of the Unuk River in Alaska, he lives directly downstream from planned development in British Columbia. Dr. Fay can be reached at: 907-254-1902, email: mfay@uuplus.net. His website documenting development in the region is: www.unukriverpost.org

Dr. Jack A. Stanford is the Jessie M. Bierman Professor of Ecology and Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station at The University of Montana. He has conducted research and education in systems ecology for 35 years with focus on rivers and fisheries including pristine Pacific salmon river ecosystems around the Pacific Rim. Dr. Stanford can be reached at: Jack.stanford@umontana.edu

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Wild Pacific salmon don’t need another threat

“Pacific salmon just don’t need another threat.” So stated James Winton, a fish virologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He was quoted in a Seattle Times article (10/19/11) covering news of two wild sockeye salmon smolts in British Columbia waters recently found by researchers to be carrying a highly contagious virus. The virus killed millions of farmed salmon in Chile, and it may be connected to Atlantic salmon grown in BC fish farms. It’s not known yet if it poses a threat to wild Pacific salmon, but that concern is very high. U.S. Senators have already called for an immediate investigation.

Rivers Without Borders shares the concern. Winton’s statement hits the nail on the head relative to what our organization is about. Wild salmon need wild rivers. That’s why we advocate safeguarding wild salmon habitat by keeping it intact and productive. And some of the best salmon habitat in the world is embodied in the transboundary watersheds of northwest BC and southeast Alaska.

Unfortunately, another “threat” to salmon in this region is looming ever larger. Rivers Without Borders has been challenging proposed mining on the Taku, near the Alaska – BC border, for years. Now the threat of development has spread to the transboundary Stikine, Iskut, and Unuk watersheds. Four huge open pit mines are proposed on the Canadian side of the border, along with associated roads and infrastructure, and more mines are under serious consideration. All the development and contaminated water that could come with it would be upstream of prime salmon habitat. And what may be North America’s largest run-of-river hydroelectric power complex is slated for the Iskut. Two factors are behind this impending development boom. One is sky high metals prices. The other is BC government’s decision to build a transmission line bringing subsidized industrial power into the southern transboundary region.

For our part, we will raise awareness of what could be lost, push government to consider cumulative impacts of the development it is championing, and demand an international conversation about the future of transboundary watersheds, especially relative to wild salmon.

Because one thing is certain. Wild salmon just don’t need another threat.

Taku River Task Force

After months of discussion and negotiation between Alaska bipartisan legislators, government officials, commercial fishermen, sport fishermen, property owners, processors, businesses, and other stakeholders, including Rivers Without Borders, a Taku River Citizen’s Task Force has been established. The Task Force embodies Resolutions introduced in the 2011 Alaska legislature reflecting these community concerns. Juneau’s legislative office made the official announcement of the Task Force on September 19th.

The Task Force will provide a public forum to consider the Taku and its importance to Southeast Alaska, assess threats to wild salmon habitat, and explore ways to ensure the long term productivity of the watershed. Potential Canadian mining immediately above the Taku’s premier salmon habitat, and the prospect of related barging and dredging, is driving the creation of this unprecedented citizen’s body.

The facilitated eight member Task Force is scheduled to meet in a series of meetings in Juneau this fall. It is to report its findings and recommendations to the 2012 legislature.

In addition to highlighting the Taku’s ecological and economic importance relative to wild salmon via a formal, legislatively sanctioned citizen’s body, the Task Force underscores that Alaskans care about the Taku, and that upstream activities on this international river could have downstream consequences. It should be noted that Task Force deliberations will only apply to the river itself, as opposed to the larger river corridor, and that traditional river usage will in no way be affected by any habitat protection recommendations. Concerns about river barging and dredging relative to salmon will figure prominently in discussions.

Salmon is at the heart of the Southeast Alaska lifestyle

An opinion piece today in the Juneau Empire by Heather Hardcastle, co-owner of Taku River Reds, and Mason Bryant, a retired research fisheries biologist with the U.S. Forest Service, highlights the importance of conserving salmon habitat to the economy of Southeast Alaska. The authors note, “The more than 5,000 salmon streams in the Tongass National Forest produce roughly one-third of all salmon caught on the West Coast…” They go on to say, “Continued high salmon productivity in Southeast Alaska is directly tied to the health of the watersheds that produce these fish.” This is especially true in the Taku, the most productive salmon river in all of Southeast Alaska.

As noted in a recent study, the economic impact of Southeast Alaska’s salmon and trout fisheries reach toward the $1 billion mark in local $, and 10% of jobs in the region. 96% of Alaskans recognize this strong personal connection to salmon and believe that the fish is essential to the Alaska way of life according to a recent survey reported in the Anchorage Daily News. The Taku River alone supports hundreds of sport and commercial fishing jobs and contributes millions of dollars to the regional economy.

As Heather and Mason state, “Salmon is at the heart of the Southeast Alaska lifestyle.” Conserving salmon habitat, and the watersheds that are an essential part of that habitat, is key to the economic viability of the region.

Salmon habitat and local fishing jobs in danger

The Tulsequah Chief mine is in the news again. After recently barging equipment up the Taku River, the Canadian mining company Chieftain Metals, its current owner (with ties to the former owner, bankrupt Redfern Resources), announced its intent to begin active development of the mine in 2012. With development planned so soon, there is little apparent option other than the river as the transportation corridor for this mine.

Jev Shelton, a Juneau resident who has fished commercially for 51 years and served Alaska on the Pacific Salmon Commission for 15 years, has called for a public forum on the plan to barge mining materials down the Taku River in a My Turn piece in the Juneau Empire.

The Taku River is the largest salmon producer in Southeast Alaska. As Jev says, “Maintaining that productivity is a matter of importance for the entire Juneau community.”

Full Fish Box?

The ad below promoting the significance of the Taku watershed relative to wild salmon recently appeared in the Juneau Empire and the Capital City Weekly. This is part of Rivers Without Borders’ continuing effort to highlight the potential Canadian Taku mining right over the Alaska border, and its associated industrial barging up the Taku river. These activities could diminish the salmon values that are of such economic importance to Southeast Alaska.

With the Atlin-Taku Land Use Plan now finalized and approved, leaving open resource development activity in the Tulsequah Valley, Alaska support for or opposition to Tulsequah mining may be a crucial factor in determining whether the reopening of the Tulsequah Chief mine moves forward in the Taku watershed.

Controversy Grows As Northwest Transmission Line Lengthens

The Northwest Transmission Line continues to generate controversy. Christopher Pollon has written an excellent article in the Tyee which highlights some of this controversy.

As part of paying for the estimated $404 million cost of the NTL in BC, the Canadian federal government will contribute $130 million of taxpayers’ money out of its Green Infrastructure Fund. In return, BC is committed to extending the NTL past its current end point of Bob Quinn Lake up to Iskut, a remote village currently powered by diesel generated electricity.

As you’d expect, the Green Infrastructure Fund is supposed to “improve the quality of the environment” and “contribute to improved air quality and lower carbon emissions.” But the NTL, along with this extension, is really about powering mine development in northwest BC. A 2008 Pembina Institute memo predicts that if the mines currently proposed to connect to the NTL are developed, they will generate “greenhouse gas pollution” trucking ore to ports and shipping it to Asian smelters at a level more than 300 times the amount saved by providing grid power to Iskut.

BC Hydro map of planned NTL line shows it ending at Bob Quinn, but an agreement between BC and the federal government requires an extension to Iskut. (Click for larger image.)

In addition, the $130 million is being used to pay for a piece of the current NTL. But who will pay for  the required extension? There isn’t a design, a cost estimate, a time frame or an environmental assessment for the extension even though it is part of the BC-Canadian NTL agreement announced in 2009.

The mines will buy “green” power from BC Hydro which will supply hydroelectricity from the AltaGas run-of-river complex along the Iskut river. But BC Hydro has agreed to buy that power from AltaGas for 60 years at prices significantly higher than the expected rates that the mining companies will pay, driving up electricity rates for the rest of BC Hydro’s customers to cover the loss.

There are significant questions that need to be asked about the NTL and its required extension. Otherwise, BC Hydro ratepayers and Canadian taxpayers may find they have a huge bill facing them.

Click here for more information about the Northwest Transmission Line project.

Atlin Taku Land Use Plan

The Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the government of British Columbia recently announced the Atlin Taku Land Use Plan. This management plan covers the entire Canadian side of the transboundary Taku watershed. The agreement establishes a system of decision making for land use management, and sets aside a large part of the region for conservation.

The Land Use Plan is a notable conservation achievement. But Rivers Without Borders is concerned that it leaves the Tulsequah Valley open to mining development. The Tulsequah Valley is just up river from the confluence of the Tulsequah and Taku rivers, and right above the Taku’s best salmon habitat, a maze of winding streams and backwaters vital to rearing salmon. The Taku river is Southeast Alaska’s most important salmon producer.

Chieftain Metals is now proposing to re-open the Tulsequah Chief mine within the area set aside in the Land Use Plan for resource development. A recent article in the Juneau Empire announces the Plan and discusses the development of the Tulsequah Chief.

Tulsequah mine owners barging again in the Taku

In what most people here in Juneau hope will not become a regular or annual event, industrial barging has returned to the Taku River. The new owner of the Tulsequah Chief and Big Bull mines, Chieftain Metals, barged materials upriver to the two mines last week and plans more barging this month.

Chieftain Metals Inc. barging equipment up the Taku river to the Tulsequah mine site in June 2011. Photo courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Despite the previous owner’s (Redfern) inability to develop the mine and eventual bankruptcy, Chieftain is ramping up its efforts to develop the two mines, with a new exploratory drilling program underway and a new preliminary feasibility study just released.

With no road access for the foreseeable future and Chieftain planning on starting construction next year, the Taku is likely to see extensive barging for at least the next few years, if the project proceeds, and possibly longer. A soon-to-be released Land Use Plan developed by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the BC government clearly demonstrates a preference for mine access via river barge and raises a number of significant hurdles to an access road. Chieftain still has not obtained a Special Use permit for the road.

While last week’s few barge runs came off without incident (unlike Redfern’s barging in 2007 and 2008), the frequent, year-round river barging required for mine development and operation poses clear threats to the Taku’s water quality and wild salmon.

After the experience with Redfern, numerous sport and commercial fishermen, fish processors, charter operators, former Alaska Department of Fish and Game fisheries managers and many other businesses, groups and individuals called for stronger habitat protections and more public involvement in the Taku. Yet progress has been slow.

If Alaskans hope to proactively initiate any management measures to safeguard the lower Taku salmon habitat from industrial barging, now is the time to have that conversation, before barging gets a serious foothold on the river.

Protecting the wild salmon of the Taku

Writer Timothy Egan’s 3/17/11 New York Times opinion piece titled “Frankenfish Phobia” is a good read. With a few choice words, he evokes the seasonal wonder that is spring Chinook salmon returning to home waters. “The alpinists of the maritime world” he calls them, honoring their long upstream journeys from the sea to interior Pacific Northwest mountain headwaters to spawn and die.

Egan compares this marvel of nature with a new product of technology, the so-called Frankenfish – “a lab created hybrid that could soon become the first genetically engineered animal approved by the [U.S.] Food and Drug Administration for human consumption.” This modified Atlantic salmon, reared in captivity, apparently grows to market size in half the time wild salmon require, without the complexities of arduous fresh water river journeys, a life at sea covering vast swaths of the north Pacific, or the need to, miraculously, return to the stream of birth. As Egan says, with Frankenfish it’s “fast fish from the factory, without the hassle of habitat preservation.”

Rivers Without Borders isn’t ready to embrace this new approach. We’re continuing to call for habitat preservation, because we believe wild salmon are a good thing, and wild salmon need wild rivers.

That’s why we’ve been advocating for a proactive measure to protect the Taku. In the heart of the Alaska- B.C. transboundary region, the Taku is southeast Alaska’s number one salmon producer, and one of Canada’s top salmon systems. It’s also threatened by proposed mining development. The Land Use Plan being finalized for the Canadian side of the watershed will protect significant portions of the Taku. And we’ve hoped the Alaska legislature would see fit to designate the lower Alaska portion of the river as Critical Habitat in light of its importance to salmon. Such a designation would insure that salmon habitat is safeguarded.

All this fits with something else Egan wrote. Alaskan’s enjoy “the world’s largest salmon runs because they’ve protected habitats, kept water quality fairly good and regulated fishermen.”

We wish it were so simple. Despite strong and diverse Alaskan support for a Taku Critical Habitat designation, led by commercial and sport fishermen and processors, there has been resistance to this initiative to protect salmon, based, it seems, on a general dislike of proactive government oversight. Where we had hoped to see a Taku Critical Habitat bill advance in the 2011 Alaska legislature, it hasn’t happened. Sights were lowered to a Resolution creating a citizen task force to consider means, including Critical Habitat, to protect Taku salmon runs. But even that goal has encountered opposition. The Resolutions did get introduced, with good language about the importance of the Taku, how fishermen depend on it, and the need for stewardship, but they did not pass out of the legislature. They are in a good position to advance in next year’s session, though the delay is unfortunate.

If anyone opposes Frankenfish, it’s Alaskans. And if anyone appreciates the value of wild salmon, and where they come from, it’s Alaskans as well. But appreciation is not enough. Action is needed, especially if Egan’s words about Alaska’s commitment to protecting salmon habitat are to ring true.