watermatters

March 2008

• Save the Upper Pitt River Valley from Private Power Projects

  Friday, March 14th, 2008

  History of the Upper Pitt River
  
  Only a few kilometres northeast of Greater Vancouver lies a spectacular valley with magnificent waterfalls, hot springs, splendid scenery and wild salmon in abundance. Accessible only by boat, the Upper Pitt River Valley at the north end of Pitt Lake has escaped many of the typical development pressures. Even today, this valley hosts only a handful of full-time residents. While logging has occurred in the lower valley for over a century, the upper elevations of the Upper Pitt River Valley are protected within three provincial parks – Pinecone-Burke, Garibaldi and Golden Ears on the west, north and east, respectively. The establishment of Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park in 1995 was supported by thousands of residents in the lower mainland.

  In the late 1990s, the threat of a gravel mine lead to the designation of the Upper Pitt as BC’s most endangered river in 2000. Thankfully, the government of the day responded to concerns and stopped the mine. Now, the Upper Pitt faces a far graver threat from a large cluster of hydro projects in which an unprecedented eight tributaries of the Upper Pitt River would be diverted to produce electricity and a transmission line carved through pristine wilderness in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.

  Situated in the heart of Katzie First Nation territory, the Upper Pitt valley is remarkably rich in its wild salmon and wilderness-dependent species. It supports the largest remaining wild coho population in the lower Fraser and has a unique race of sockeye that take up to 6 years to mature. It provides valuable habitat for all species of Pacific salmon plus steelhead, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and the largest population of bull trout remaining in the lower mainland. The Upper Pitt River Valley attracts grizzly bears, wolves, marbled murrelets, wolverine and mountain goats. Because of its remoteness and habitat values, government biologists selected the Upper Pitt Valley for the re-introduction of elk in 2004. Today, the elk are thriving.

  The Proposed Private Power Project
  
  The Upper Pitt hydro proposal from Northwest Cascade Power, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Run of River, Inc.) is a very large 180 MW (megawatt) cluster of 7 powerhouses. To be approved, this project will require an Environmental Assessment and deletion of land from Pinecone Burke for a 42 km transmission line to Squamish. Key decisions from the provincial government are anticipated as early as spring, 2008. Because Pinecone Burke Park was established by legislation, a boundary change will require a vote in the provincial Legislature. Public information sessions have been scheduled (see BC parks website, bottom of next page or www.bmn.bc.ca). The Environmental Assessment process is expected to open for public comment on the draft Terms of Reference in spring, 2008 (see www.eao.gov.bc.ca, current projects, Upper Pitt). Because complete information regarding this project has not yet been released, some of the information below may be subject to change.

  Shockingly, the proposed Upper Pitt “run-of-river” projects would divert all major tributaries of the Upper Pitt River that lie outside of park boundaries. It is an unprecedented high-density cluster of river diversions that would have a heavy impact on this small valley. Within only a short 12 km stretch of the river, eight creeks would be diverted, in part, and seven powerhouses constructed. These creeks include Boise, Homer, Pinecone, Steve and Bucklin Creeks on the west side of the Upper Pitt River plus Corbold, a tributary of Corbold and Shale on the east. The portions of their headwaters that are outside of park boundaries will be dammed and reservoirs constructed. In total, over 30 km of creeks will lose a substantial portion of their flows. These power projects typically result in diversion of 80-95% of the mean annual discharge of a creek. The Upper Pitt River is internationally renowned for its abundant wild salmon. It’s hard to imagine a more inappropriate place for eight river diversion projects.

  Astonishingly, creek diversions and powerhouse construction are proposed within aquatic habitat used by ocean-migrating salmon in four of the eight creeks despite the fact that important coho and chinook spawning areas are found in lower reaches. Boise Creek, reported to be highly sensitive to low water winter flows, supports a unique hybrid of Dolly Varden/bull trout which are present throughout the entire reach of the creek proposed for diversion. In particular, any disturbance to this creek is totally unacceptable.

  In addition to impacts on fish habitat, considerable construction will be required on public land. New roads, powerhouses, intake structures, transmission lines, gravel pits and penstocks to carry water are anticipated to cover more than a hundred hectares of land in the valley. Transmission lines and roads will require forest clearing and creek crossings. Construction will remove some of the protective cover of riparian forest along the creeks. Such construction in the Upper Pitt River Valley, with its steep mountainous terrain and heavy rainfall and snowstorm events, could lead to blocked culverts, road failures, landslides and damage to salmon habitat.

  Threats to Pinecone Burke and our Provincial Park System
  
  The electricity generated is proposed to be taken from the valley to Squamish on a transmission line that would cross a remote 4.6 km portion of pristine wilderness in Pinecone Burke, a Class A Provincial Park. Construction of a transmission line through pristine wilderness in a Class A Park is unprecedented; in fact, it is prohibited under the BC Parks Act. Fears are high that deletion of land from Pinecone Burke will set a new precedent for industrial intrusions into other provincial parks and protected areas. Why is the provincial government even allowing the consideration of such an illegal industrial activity in a Class A Park?

  Deletion of land from Pinecone Burke Park could interfere with wildlife movement from wilderness areas in Garibaldi Park to southern portions of Pinecone Burke Park and the adjoining protected Coquitlam drinking watershed. The Steve Creek corridor contains sensitive wetlands and critical grizzly bear habitat – the transmission line is proposed to go straight through this area. The proponents propose to “compensate” for the deletion of this land from a Class A Park by adding what appears to be mostly a high elevation rocky ridge to the Park. In addition to crossing what is now Class A protected wilderness, the transmission line would go straight through the most valuable habitat within the proposed addition – what sort of “park addition” would that be? An additional concern is that, once constructed, transmission lines become beacons that attract inappropriate use such as ATVs and snowmobiles into pristine habitat used by wilderness-dependent species.
  
  Do We Need Low-Value High-Cost Electricity from Private Projects?
  
  Despite its high environmental and financial costs, the electricity produced by run-of-river projects is considered low-value because it can be supplied only on an intermittent basis. Little electricity will be produced in winter when high elevation intakes are frozen – yet this is our period of highest electricity consumption in BC. A report recently released by BC Hydro indicates conservation initiatives alone could result in electricity consumption in 2027 being no greater than what it is at present. Clearly, conservation – not environmental destruction – is the best way to meet our future energy needs.

  There many reasons why such a large cluster of hydro projects is unacceptable in a special place like the Upper Pitt River Valley. While the Upper Pitt is a particularly egregious example, hundreds of rivers are now threatened with similar diversion projects. The provincial government currently has no management strategy to identify which sites could be suitable for energy projects and which, such as the Upper Pitt River Valley, are totally inappropriate. With no overall planning, BC’s remote wilderness areas are likely to become covered in a web of overlapping and redundant private transmission lines…all of which will only increase our electricity costs.
  
  Your Help is Urgently Needed to Protect Pinecone Burke Park!
  
  Comments from the public are being solicited until April 2 (midnight) on the proposed park boundary change. Please, stand up for our parks and say no to the proposed change in this park boundary. Stopping the transmission line could present a serious impediment to the entire project.

  Please submit your comments to
  PineconeBurke@gov.bc.ca

  or mail them to
  Boundary Change Pinecone Burke
  c/o BC Parks
  PO Box 9398
  Stn. Prov. Govt.
  Victoria, BC, V8W 9M9

  or fax to
  1-250-387-5757.

  For more details see
  Pitt River Projects
  or
  BC Parks.

  Produced by the Burke Mountain Naturalists, Coquitlam

  Posted in The Future of Water

• Stand Up for our BC Rivers – Tuesday, March 25th

  Friday, March 14th, 2008

  A private power project is proposed for the Upper Pitt River valley, and a power line right-of-way is proposed to be cleared through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park just outside of Vancouver.

  Located just 40 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, the Upper Pitt River valley is a remarkable place with hot springs and waterfalls.

  This area is renowned worldwide for its wild salmon and majestic wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolverines and mountain goats.

  A private company, Northwest Cascade Power, is proposing a massive 180 Megawatt private hydro project in the Upper Pitt River. This power project would involve:

  • diverting all 8 of the major tributaries of the Upper Pitt River system into 30 kilometres of large pipes, then running them through 7 powerhouses to produce electricity
  • clearcutting a network of power line corridors throughout the Upper Pitt Valley
  • ramming a power line right through the northern portion of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

  SHOW UP at the final and most urgent Open House Public Meeting for public comment to STOP this project.

  This important meeting will take place in Pitt Meadows as follows:

  Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows – RECONVENED!
  Tuesday March 25th
  4 PM to 9 PM. Question and Answer sessions are from 6.30-8.30 pm.
  Pitt Meadows Secondary School
  19438 116B Avenue (at the corner of Blakely Road, a few blocks south of the Lougheed Hwy.)
  Pitt Meadows, BC

  Get on the bus!

  The Wilderness Committee will be providing free buses to the Tuesday, March 25th public meeting in Pitt Meadows. Bus riders will be provided a sandwich, so please RSVP so we know how many to bring. Bus pick-ups will be at Waterfront Station and Braid SkyTrain station. For details and to reserve a place on the bus, please call 604-683-8220, or email.

  SPEAK UP by mail or email.

  The comment period for the public to voice their concern is only open until April 2, 2008.
  Please take 10 minutes to submit your comments to:

  Boundary Change Pinecone Burke
  c/o BC Parks
  PO Box 9398, Stn. Prov. Govt.
  Victoria, BC, V8W 9M9
  fax 1-250-387-5757
  PineconeBurke@gov.bc.ca

  Read more information .
  Watch “Power Play”.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, The Future of Water

• World Water Day – March 22, 2008

  Friday, March 14th, 2008

  Saturday, March 22 is World Water Day.
  British Columbia’s rivers and ground water are being exploited for private profit.

  • Permanent drought conditions are immanent in 36 of the United States including California which will be out of water in 20 years.
  • A foreign and corporate gold rush to access BC’s water is currently underway by stock promoters and encouraged by Premier Campbell, BC Environment Minister Barry Campbell and BC Energy Minister Richard Neufeld.

  We, the residents of British Columbia, must speak up NOW to keep BC water within our respectful PUBLIC stewardship.
  Find out more.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, The Future of Water

• Bottled Water Isn’t Cool

  Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

  Why on Earth is anyone still drinking water bottled in plastic?

  Not only is it a potential health hazard and more expensive than gasoline, consuming water from plastic water bottles contributes to global warming, environmental pollution and the rampant privatization of water. David Suzuki has been warning us of the ecological damage of bottled water for years. With green practices becoming trendy, consuming bottled water is losing its glamour and quickly becoming a social taboo.

  7 Compelling Reasons to Stop Drinking Bottled Water

  #1 It’s Making Us Sick – Plastics Are Toxic

  Polyethylene terephthalate (PET #1 plastic) is used for single serve plastic water bottles.
  This type of water bottle has been approved for one-time use only. It has become common practice for many people to unknowingly re-use these plastic bottles. Studies show that bacteria easily breeds in PET plastic bottles when re-used and that re-use may cause DEHA, a carcinogen, to migrate from the plastic into water contained in the bottle. A new 2006 study revealed that significant levels of antimony, a toxic chemical, leaches into water sold in PET plastic bottles.

  Bisphenal-A is a toxic compound found in polycarbonate (#7 plastic), the rigid, translucent, hard plastic used in 5 gallon water bottles. It is a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen and is linked to early-onset puberty, declining sperm counts, obesity and the huge increase in breast and prostate cancer. Due to the alarming toxicity of this chemical, in March 2007 a billion-dollar class action suit was filed in Los Angeles against five leading manufacturers of baby bottles containing Bisphenal-A. BPA has been officially banned in Canada as of October 2010.

  #2 It’s Expensive

  The extortionate price of gas pales in comparison to bottled water. A litre (33.8 ounces) of tap water in Canada costs taxpayers an average of 0.0005 cents. A litre of bottled water sells between $0.50 and $6.00.That makes the markup on one litre of bottled water a whopping 1,000 – 12,000%

  #3 It’s Under-Regulated

  More than 1/4 of bottled water consumed by Canadians is simply filtered tap water. In Canada tap water has to meet 160 standards compared to less than half a dozen for bottled water. In Canada bottled water is considered a ‘food product’ and is regulated under the Federal Food and Drug Act. Bottled water production facilities are only inspected every 2 – 3 years whereas regular drinking water operators are subject to the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines and must test and report on a regular basis.

  Contrary to its claims of purity, bottled water is not immune to contamination. A recent US study indicated that 1/3 of all brands tested contained arsenic and/or E.coli and that ¼ of all bottled water was simply tap water sold at a significant profit In March 2007, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency warned the public not to consume imported Jermuk Classic Brand Natural Sparkling Mineral Water because it contained excessive levels of arsenic. In 2004, Coca-Cola recalled its entire Dasani line of bottled water in the UK due to toxic compounds formed in the water during the disinfection process. Learn more

  A two-year shelf life is considered acceptable for bottled water. There is no control over the change in the bottled water’s characteristics once it is bottled.

  #4 It’s Polluting Our Planet

  The pollution and energy consumption involved in the production, shipping and disposal of plastic bottles is staggering. “The production of one kilogram of PET plastic requires 17.5 kilograms of water and results in air pollution emissions of over half a dozen significant pollutants. In other words, the water required to create one plastic bottle is significantly more than that bottle will contain” says Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence.

  Plastics are the fastest growing form of municipal waste. They do not biodegrade. An estimated 88% of water bottles are not recycled. Our oceans, now littered with plastic, may be one of the most alarming of environmental concerns today. Most plastic floats near the sea surface where it is mistaken for food by birds and fishes. Through the global food chain, it is contaminating trillions upon trillions of ocean inhabitants and ultimately humans.

  #5 Water Is Getting Scarce – Fast!

  Severe drought is occurring in many regions around the globe with no sign of letting up. Meanwhile aquifers that can take hundreds of years to recharge have been depleted.

  More than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Thirty-one countries face water scarcity and water sources are rapidly becoming polluted and depleted. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will face water shortages. Learn more

  Australia is experiencing its fifth consecutive year of drought. Permanent drought is predicted for the Southwestern U.S., much of which has been in severe drought since 2000. Seven American states and Mexico are competing for water from the already over-allocated Colorado River. China is also experiencing ongoing drought. 700 million Chinese lack reliable access to water suitable for human consumption. India is also deeply concerned about lack of water. Sections of Mexico City are sinking at a rate of 12 inches a year due to over-tapping aquifers that have been drained to supply the city’s population of 9 million with water.

  Meanwhile ‘Big Water’ companies are buying access to and drying up aquifers that have traditionally supplied human populations, farms and ecosystems with water.

  Current legislation in British Columbia allows companies (including non-Canadian companies) to extract up to 1,710,000 gallons of groundwater per day without a permit and ship it anywhere in the world providing it is in bottles less than 20 litres in size. BC communities, such as Valemont , are loosing their water to profiteering bottled water companies who can take our water with no accountablitity to the environment or local citizens! This is grossly incongruent with basic ethics, water shortages that are starting to occur within British Columbia and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions around the globe.

  #6 Privatizing Water Threatens a Human Right

  Instead of working to help those without water, the world’s largest water corporations are seeking to privatize this precious resource, turning a public commons and a human right into a commodity. Learn more

  Growing populations challenge aging water delivery systems that many local communities and governments cannot afford to update. ‘Big Water’ companies are moving in to take over public water systems in North America. They have plans to control 80% of the public water supply within the next few years. Paying grossly inflated prices for bottled water is intended to seduce us into accepting a transition from unlimited, affordable clean water for all to water becoming an expensive commodity owned and controlled by ‘Big Water’. We complain about gas prices. Why accept water prices that are even higher?

  Disgracefully, Canada is the one country that has consistently voted against water as a human right at the World Water Forums in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and the 2002 UN Committee on Human Rights.

  Meanwhile, more than 1/3 of the world’s population lives and dies without access to decent drinking water and sanitation.

  Concerned groups, like the United Church of Canada, are taking a stand against bottled water on the moral grounds that water is a basic human right, not a commodity to be sold for profit.

  #7 It’s No Longer Cool

  Once a fashion trend, drinking bottled water will die in disgrace. Like the cigarette, once fashionable and now stigmatized, bottled water is on its way out. You know the story about the frog in the pot. Turn up the heat slowly and he won’t know he needs to get out. Don’t be caught in the heat. Your life depends on it.

  Make the switch. Get out of the pot now. The new wave is health conscious and eco-friendly.

  Say NO to bottled water.
  –

  What can you do?

  • Use a re-usable water bottle and fill up at home.
  • Filter your own with a water filter designed for your local water conditions.
  • Educate yourself. Watch these films…

  “Tapped”
  “Blue Gold: World Water Wars”
  “Power Play: the theft of BC’s Rivers”
  “FLOW: For Love of Water”
  “The Story of Bottled Water”

  • Read these reports and articles…

  Right to Clean water -Why No Support form Canada?
  Bisphenol-A Banned!
  Plastic: what do those numbers mean?
  Vitamin Water -Are you kidding?
  Trashing the Oceans

  • Support these organizations:

  Wilderness Committee
  Eco Justice Canada
  The Council of Canadians

  Spread the word. Say NO to bottled water.

  Posted in The Future of Water, Vancouver Water, Water and Health, Water Treatment Guide

• Vancouver Water
• Water Treatment Guide
• Water and Health
• Energizing Water
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