The votes are in and these five B.C. rivers have flowed right into the province’s most endangered list.

 

Peace River near Fort St. John, the lower Fraser River near Chilliwack, Similkameen River outside of Princeton, Pennask Creek between Merritt and Peachland, and Callaghan Creek near Whistler have topped the annual list put together by the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. (ORC).

 

Peace River has been ranked No. 1 by a long shot due to the proposed Site C dam, which could receive final approval later this year.

 

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Mark Angelo, chair of the ORC, said it’s not the kind of list he wanted to make.

 

“These impacts would be negative, far ranging and irreversible,” he said.

 

The ORC believes the dam would have numerous environmental impacts, including the destruction of wintering wildlife habitat, several fish species being hurt, recreational value being diminished, and several cultural sites being lost due to flooding.

 

The lower Fraser River is threatened by a proposed riverside hazardous waste treatment plant, the ORC said.

 

The Similkameen River is also listed due to a proposal put forward by Fortis to build the Canyon Dam.

 

“The size of the Canyon Dam would be significant with a reservoir up to 35 kilometres long,” the ORC said. “Its construction is estimated to destroy the canyon’s ecosystem which has significant wildlife values … the dam would inundate about 800 hectares.”

 

The ORC lists the Pennask Creek as threatened due to acid run-off from pyrite-bearing waste rock which was exposed during construction of the Okanagan highway connector.

 

Callaghan Creek finished off the list due to a proposed independent power project.

 

Each year the ORC reviews nominations for B.C.’s Most Endangered Rivers from its nearly 100,000 members across the province.

 

Photo: An artist’s rendering of a proposed Site C hydroelectric dam near Fort St. John.