DonAndersen Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 There has been a catastrophic release of mud and silt into Hidden Creek. It is dark chocolate brown, during low-flow season when silt is most devastating. All other creeks in the area are running clear. The Oldman is discoloured from the Hidden Creek confluence all the way to the reservoir. This disaster was predicted by many of us when Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development set aside protection guidelines to allow new logging and roads on steep slopes adjacent the creek. Hidden Creek was habitat to threatened westslope cutthroat and critical spawning habitat for an estimated 75% of the surviving bull trout upstream from the reservoir. I and others warned them of impending disaster this spring when the reclaimed slopes began to bulge with groundwater. The response we got was condescension and some new monitoring (monitoring is always so good at fixing stuff after all). It appears no that, thanks to wilful negligence by the responsible management agency and irresponsible logging practises by Spray Lakes Sawmills, we can now kiss one of the last great streams in the upper Oldman country goodbye. Ask me how I really feel about this.... Kevin Van Tighem 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcubed Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 This was prior to the area receiving all that rain... http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Disastrous+logging+effects+spark+fears+environmental+crisis/8517538/story.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonFlyAbboy Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Class action lawsuit, all stakeholders suing spray lakes sawmill, the minister Diana McQueen, and the governing body. Who's in 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffin Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 God this is sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northfork Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 God this is sad. X2 brother. This isn't one of these things that they think they can fix later, though they probably do think it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishscape Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Are there any pictures or data post-flood? Can the increased monitoring data be requested from ERSD? Has anyone been to the site lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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