Flathead Needs Permanent Protection

BC’s Flathead River Valley is home to some of the world’s purest water and rare and at-risk species like grizzlies, bull trout and Lewis’ woodpecker. Until February 2010, the Flathead was under siege from proposals for mining and energy developments. These resource extraction schemes threatened to fragment the Flathead wilderness, jeopardize its critical wildlife habitat and severely comprise the Flathead River’s exceptional water quality.

Open-Pit Coal Mining

One proposal under consideration by the B.C. government was for a coal strip mine that would have demolished a scenic Rocky Mountain in the Flathead. Cline Mining Corp. planned to dump 300 million tonnes of pollutants and slag into Foisey Creek, a headwaters stream of the pure and free-flowing Flathead River. Scientists have identified Foisey Creek as critical spawning habitat for threatened bull trout, which migrate north from Glacier National Park in the US to reproduce in the Flathead. Foisey Creek is also habitat for the endangered westslope cutthroat trout, one of the last genetically pure trout species in the region.

Coalbed Methane Extraction Planned

BP Canada Energy Company, a subsidiary of energy giant Beyond Petroleum (formerly British Petroleum), also planned to extract coalbed methane from a vast area that included the Flathead watershed. Multiple phosphate and precious metals exploration drilling permits had also been issued for the Flathead River Valley. (Phosphate was banned from Canadian household detergents, laundry soap and cleaners in 2008 due to its detrimental environmental impact.)

Gold Exploration Near Flathead Headwaters 

Vancouver-based Max Resources Group began drilling for gold in July 2008 above Howell Creek in the picturesque headwaters of the Flathead River, lending renewed urgency to efforts to protect the Flathead. Read a news article about the drilling project. In the summer of 2009, Max Resources announced plans to expand Flathead gold exploration, expanding the active exploration area to about 75 square kilometres.

Flathead: B.C.'s Most Endangered River

As a result of these threats, BC's Outdoor Recreation Council named the Flathead BC's most endangered river in March 2009. The Flathead River was second on the council's of endangered rivers in 2008 and also topped the list in 2007. The council’s 2010 endangered river list placed the Flathead “On Watch”, noting the absence of permanent protection.

World Heritage Committee Weighs In

On June 26, 2009, following a petition by Sierra Club BC and other conservation groups, the United Nations' World Heritage Committee voted unanimously to send a delegation to BC to investigate proposed Flathead energy and mining developments. The committee is concerned about harmful impacts these developments could have on the adjoining Waterton-
Glacier International Peace Park--a World Heritage Site and two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. 

Media reports in early 2010 indicated that the mission’s report—due to be made public in July 2010--would recommend a ban on Flathead mining and establishment of a transboundary conservation and wildlife management area.

Current Threats to the Flathead

Today, the Flathead remains at risk from industrial logging and increased road access. The lack of any Flathead wildlife sanctuary whatsoever means that animals, such as grizzlies and mountain goats, can be shot during hunting season as soon as they cross into B.C. from the adjacent Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

Sierra Club BC and other groups are asking the B.C. government to agree to a National Park in the southeastern one-third of the Flathead River Valley. We also need a Wildlife Management Area in the rest of the valley and adjoining habitat, to preserve an essential  Rocky Mountain wildlife corridor that stretches from Glacier Park to Canada’s Banff, Jasper and Kootenay national parks.