You might remember that a few months back we wrote you because our friends at the environmental group Wildsight needed our help stopping the Beaver River private hydro power project, which is located not far from Golden BC.

This project would involve the damming and diverting of three wild rivers: Ventego Creek, with its rare sub alpine wetlands and five species at risk; Alder Creek, also a wild watershed with road-less headwaters and at risk species; and Cupola Creek, far removed from transmission lines and any community.

Selkirk Power, the owner of the proposed project, estimates this project will have a maximum generating capacity of 44 megawatts, putting the project just under the 50 megawatt threshold for a provincial environmental assessment. This means the project could have gone forward with very little opportunity for the public to comment.

However, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has determined this cluster of run-of-river projects would constitute a ‘harmful alteration, disruption and destruction’ (HADD) of fish habitat. Because the project would damage and destroy fish habitat, it will now require special authorization under the Fisheries Act of Canada if this fish-killing project is to go ahead. Cupola and Ventego creeks are home to westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, which are both listed as at-risk species by the federal government. It is hard to imagine how the DFO would allow the destruction of the habitat of at-risk species, but we must make sure that doesn't happen. That's why I am writing you to ask you to take action NOW.

Please go to Wildsight’s website and use their letter writing page to send a message to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield and the Department of Fisheries - ask them NOT to authorize the proposed Beaver Priver power project and prevent any harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat on Alder, Cupola and Ventego creeks.

Thanks for taking action!

Sven Biggs | Outreach Director
Wilderness Committee