(The following story by Jeff Nagel appeared on the Tri-City News website on March 22.)
COQUITLAM, Canada — The Cheakamus River tops this year’s list of B.C.’s most endangered rivers after a toxic spill from a CN Rail derailment killed half a million fish there last summer.
The Outdoor Research Council of B.C. released its annual list March 20, putting the Cheakamus, north of Squamish, at a tie for first place with a collection of Georgia Basin steelhead streams.
(The Coquitlam River placed in the middle of the pack, at sixth.)
Last August’s spill of 40,000 litres of sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus killed thousands of salmon, steelhead and trout – an estimated 90 per cent of the fish in the river at the time.
“This spill had deadly consequences,” said council chair Mark Angelo. “Its effects on local fish stocks will be felt for many years, if not decades, and this may well be the most catastrophic spill that has taken place in B.C. over the last several decades.”
It was one of just 11 major derailments for CN on former BC Rail lines last year, prompting the council to call for further precautions including a review of train length limits on all routes.
The council’s report says steelhead are also in serious decline or at risk in several area rivers, including the North Shore’s Capilano and Seymour, where the plight of the prized sport fish is “an extreme conservation concern.”
In the Capilano, it says, steelhead are facing much colder than optimal water temperatures because the GVRD’s Cleveland dam releases water from the bottom of the Capilano Reservoir, where water is coldest. A different release mechanism would help, it said.
The Fraser River, which topped last year’s endangered list, was ranked third this time and has been near the top for years.
Urbanization, industrial pollution, sewage, agricultural impacts and logging in the headwaters continue to threaten the river, the report said.
It also flagged incidents like this month’s accidental draining of a major back channel near Rosedale, killing millions of newly hatched salmon fry, and said the river faces challenges from low summer flows and reduced streamside protection for tributaries.
New developments near Iona Spit, including YVR’s airport expansion and a possible new ferry terminal, could pose further risks.
It also notes the loss of millions of Fraser-bound sockeye salmon over the past two years.
“While changing ocean conditions are certainly a factor, we can’t overlook the importance of protecting freshwater habitat,” Angelo said.
Another perennial entry, the Coquitlam River, is in sixth place because of excessive sedimentation from gravel mining.
“It is estimated that for close to 200 days each year, siltation levels along much of the river are at levels considered harmful to fish,” the council said.
Urbanization is also an issue. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 new residents coming to the lower slopes of Burke Mountain will put more pressure on river habitat, the report warned.
Tenth on the list is the Salmon River flowing through Langley.
Coho salmon returns there have fallen to as little as 2,000 last year from more than 20,000 in the mid 1980s and perhaps as high as 100,000 historically.
The report blames mainly manure contamination from area farms.
It warns there’s ongoing pressure to dredge the river or drain the Fort Langley floodplain, and there’s ongoing interest in developing upstream Agricultural Land Reserve areas.
Also on the council’s watch list include the Nicomekl River.
It and various south coast streams like Byrne Creek in Burnaby have seen steep declines in coho returns.
“Things can still be turned around if there is a strong enough will to do so,” Angelo said of the threats to river habitat.
THE LIST
Most Endangered Rivers for 2006:
1. Cheakamus River (tie)
2. Georgia Basin steelhead streams (tie)
3. Fraser River
4. Taku River
5. Coldwater River
6. Coquitlam River
7. Chalis River
8. Okanagan River
9. Kettle River
10. Salmon River (tied)
10. Iskut/Stikine Rivers (tied)