B.C. group lists Flathead as endangered river

A British Columbia umbrella organization for outdoor recreation groups has again named the Flathead River near the top of the province's most endangered rivers.

Out of hundreds of waterways throughout the province, the Canadian Flathead River tied for second on the British Columbia Outdoor Recreation Council's annual endangered rivers report.

Last year, the Flathead was number one on the list.

The council represents 25 recreation groups with more than 120,000 members who voted on the endangered rivers list.

The Canadian Flathead River is situated in an undeveloped valley where coal mining and coal-bed methane development projects have been repeatedly proposed.

The river flows south into Montana, becoming the North Fork Flathead River, which has protections as a designated wild and scenic river that is the western boundary of Glacier National Park.

Because of its remoteness, the Canadian Flathead has long been somewhat obscure, said Mark Angelo, a spokesman for the council. But it has gained a higher profile in the last couple of years.

"B.C. is a huge province and sometimes issues at a regional level may not get the same attention as they might at the local level," Angelo said. "This list succeeded last year in getting the Flathead on major newspapers across the province. Having it on the list again, I hope that will give the Flathead the attention it deserves."

The Flathead was ranked second along with the Fraser River. The Upper Pitt River, which has one of British Columbia's most productive salmon runs, topped this year's list because of a highly controversial hydroelectric dam proposal.

Angelo said the list is developed through a six-month process involving nominations from members, the general public and provincial river managers. The Flathead received some nominations from Montanans, he noted.

"The river supports important transboundary fish populations while also sustaining perhaps the highest density of inland grizzly bears anywhere in North America, along with many other wildlife species," the council states in its report. "Yet, while the U.S. section is protected, the B.C. stretch faces a number of threats, the most prominent being the proposed Cline open pit coal mine."

That mine is proposed directly adjacent to Foisey Creek, one of the river's northernmost headwater streams.

"This report shows that concerns over the proposed industrialization of one of the wildest and most pristine landscapes in North America are not constrained by nationality," said Will Hammerquist, Glacier field representative for the National Parks Conservation Association.

"Together Canadians and Americans share the Flathead River and we must come together to build a long-term solution that protects the existing values of the Flathead River and Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park for future generations," Hammerquist said.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com