upstream

Photo by Spark2006

From the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, here’s the most endangered rivers of BC for 2008 as nominated by council members, the general public and resource managers.

BC’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2008;
1. Upper Pitt River (Independent power project proposal)
2. Flathead River – tied (proposed coal mine, coalbed methane development)
2. Fraser River – tied (urbanization, sewage, pollution, industrial development)
3. Taku River (proposed mine, acid mine drainage)
4. Peace River (hydro-electric dam proposal)
5. “Sacred Headwaters” of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine (coalbed methane proposal)
6. Kettle River (water extraction, development, power project proposal)
7. Coquitlam River (excessive sedimentation, urbanization)
8. Glacier/Howser Creeks (power project proposal)
9. Coldwater River (water extraction)
10. Okanagan River (channelization, water extraction, urban encroachment, riparian habitat loss and the building of dams and weirs)
11. Salmon River (near Salmon Arm – low flows, pine beetle, riverside habitat loss)
12. Little Campbell River (development, agricultural impacts, water quality concerns)

Although I’ve linked each river to a related site, here’s the PDF document from the Outdoor Rec Council with their rationale for each river.

Also, here’s a link to a media player that allows you to choose from a few short documentaries regarding some of the above listed rivers.