Run-of-river power proposals that divert streams feared a significant
impact on wildlife habitat

Half of B.C.'s 10 most threatened rivers are at risk from so-called green energy projects, according to
an annual report released today by the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.
Mark Angelo, rivers chair for the council, said the public is concerned about a flood of private
run-of-river power proposals all over B.C. in the absence of a comprehensive provincial strategy that
considers cumulative impacts.
Bute Inlet, which ranked eighth on the council's list, is the site of a Plutonic Power proposal involving a
record 17 stream diversions, 445 kilometres of transmission lines, 314 kilometres of roads, 142
bridges, 16 powerhouses, and a substation.
"Looking at Bute Inlet, that's a footprint that far exceeds what people think about as a green project,"
said Angelo, noting that even a small project in the wrong place can have significant impacts.
The Flathead River in southeast B.C. ranks first on this year's list due to proposed coal mining and
coalbed methane development. It placed second in 2008 and first in 2007.
The B.C. Liberal administration has championed private power projects to the point of passing
legislation that removes the ability of local governments to stand in their way.
"A lot of people feel alienated from the process," said Angelo, an Order of Canada recipient who also
heads the B.C. Institute of Technology's fish, wildlife, and recreation program.

He said the province's environmental assessment office is designed mainly to help industry make a
project work. Environmental concerns relate not just to infrastructure, but potential changes to stream
flows and temperatures and insect production that could affect fish survival downstream.
The Peace River ranked sixth on this year's list and is threatened by BC Hydro's power dam proposal
for Site C, a stretch downstream of Hudson's Hope that holds important farmland, wildlife habitat, and
archeological sites.
The low-flow Kettle River near Grand Forks ranked second, in part due to a Cascade Heritage Power
Project run-of-river proposal in Cascade Canyon.
Other run-of-river projects: Purcell Green Power's plan for Glacier/Howser creeks, third on the list, near
Kaslo; and Kleana Power Corp.'s plan for Klinaklini River, 10th on the list, southeast of Kitimat.
The upper Pitt River placed first last year on the council's list due to an independent power project that
would have run powerlines through neighbouring Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.
The province turned down the project after a groundswell of public protest.
Around B.C., rivers are threatened not just by power projects but by urban and industrial development,
water extraction, sedimentation, drought, pollution and mining.
Angelo said it is impossible to "separate the health of our fish stocks from the health of our rivers."
Others on this year's list: the Fraser River, fourth, for urbanization, industrial development and pollution;
Brohm River, a productive steelhead stream near Squamish, fifth, for development and excessive
water extraction; the Coquitlam, seventh, for excessive sedimentation and urbanization; and the
Coldwater River and other Thompson River streams for water extraction and development.
The council solicited nominations for the 17th annual list of most endangered rivers from its member
groups, which, in turn, boast close to 100,000 members, as well as from the general public and
resource managers.

For more information, www.orcbc.ca.
lpynn@vancouversun.com

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