Winter, 1998 Download as Adobe Acrobat PDF (220K). Use your browser's "SAVE LINK AS" command and save as "SOURCE." Windows: right button click and hold. Mac: click and hold. Selected Stories B.C. Politics, Coal Mine Threaten North Fork Basin Commission Updated on Fording's Plans President's Column Educating Future Watershed Citizens Experts Study Rocky Mountain Changes Lakers Develop Strategic Plan B.C. Politics, Coal Mine Threaten North Fork By Steve Thompson The Flathead River rises out of a political oblivion that poses perhaps the greatest threat ever to the clean waters, fisheries and wildlife of the North Fork and Flathead Lake. Montanans are almost universally clueless about the Canadian political context of Fording Coal's recently announced plans to develop coal leases in the headwaters of the Flathead River. In this case, ignorance is not blissful. In fact, if water quality in Flathead Lake is to be protected, Americans may want to get savvy about British Columbia politics real fast. According to knowledgeable B.C. and Montana observers, it's not too early for Montanas to raise the alarm and begin fighting these proposed developments. For Montanans concerned about water quality and wildlife, B.C.'s current political situation is not hopeful. "If that mine is built, the uniqueness of the North Fork will be lost forever," said Rich Moy, chief of the water management bureau of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. "Politically, this is a bigger threat than Cabin Creek." Cabin Creek was another open-pit mine slated for the Flathead six miles north of the border a decade ago. Montanans of all stripes and political persuasions rallied to fight that mine. It was submitted to the International Joint Commission (IJC), which mediates boundary water disputes. IJC ruled against the mine. The political furor, plus ailing coal markets, prompted the Canadian company to shelve its plans. The North Fork arguably is the most ecologically critical drainage in the Lower 48. The west half of Glacier National Park drains into the North Fork. Grizzly bears, wolverines, wolves and elk roam freely across the broad valley bottoms into the wild Whitefish Range. The North Fork, which flows through 40 miles of British Columbia, provides the single most important carnivore movement corridor between the Canadian and U.S. Rockies. Its pure waters provides a buffer against increasing downstream pollution into Flathead Lake. The political dimensions of B.C. coal mining in the Flathead are ominous for several reasons. In the 1980s, Sage Creek Coal was a virtual unknown in British Columbia when it proposed to develop Cabin Creek coal reserves. In contrast, Fording Coal is an industrial and political powerhouse in the province. In early October, before Fording's Flathead announcement, I got a sense of Fording's political clout while reading a local newspaper in a Fernie cafe. Fernie is the largest town in the Elk Valley, the Canadian drainage immediately north of the Flathead. Fording has major coal operations in the Elk Valley. This fall, I read, British Columbia Premier Glen Clark paid a rare visit to the Elk Valley. To the dismay of many locals, Clark didn't hold a public meeting. Instead, he went straight to the local Fording operation. And then he went home. Glen Clark won narrow reelection last year as the head of the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP), which benefited from a divided opposition. The NDP candidate in the conservative Elk Valley won election on the voting strength of coal miners, who feared the anti-labor policies of the opposition more than they feared the pro-environment rhetoric of NDP. The coal miners have had an antagonistic relationship with Fording, which is generally feared as a ruthless operator in the Elk Valley. NDP was seen as a bulwark against Fording's excesses. It was a sensible decision by the miners. Glen Clark, like his father, is a former union organizer. Environmental protection comes in a distant second to job creation. As premier, he's a bombastic populist whose popularity soared this summer when he bashed the United States during an international dispute over salmon. Clark prefers frontal assaults and belligerence over the diplomatic tact and consensus-building approach preferred by many Canadian politicians. Clark's style became evident a couple years ago when British Columbia was wrapping up a multi-year land-use planning effort known as the CORE process, which was based upon community roundtables. Clark's NDP predecessor, Michael Harcourt, had initiated the CORE process as a true believer in community-based conflict resolution. Clark appears to have had little fondness for such niceties. Bob Jamieson, a rancher and retired outfitter near Kimberley, was the coordinator for the CORE process in the East Kootenay, a region that includes the Canadian Flathead. Jamieson doesn't hide his frustration about the outcome of the process after years of long meetings. The roundtable's recommendations were sent to Victoria, B.C.'s capital city, where they encountered the power politics that were more to the liking of Premier Clark. One CORE participant in the East Kootenay, who asked not to be identified, put it simply: "Coal won big time," when the roundtable recommendations were subjected to the political pressure cooker in Victoria. In the Flathead, Jamieson says, local participants reached a compromise of sorts. Coal development would be allowed in the upland areas in exchange for strong protection in the valley bottoms. In Victoria, however, many of the Flathead environmental measures were stripped. "The trade-off didn't happen," Jamieson says. "It's fair to say that environmental and wildlife interests feel their end of the bargain wasn't held up." For all the shortcomings of the CORE process, John Bergenske of the East Kootenay Environmental Society said he came away with a good education about the coal industry, particularly Fording. "Fording doesn't feel like they need to get along with anybody. They managed to get their way by being totally belligerent. I certainly learned a lot from them about not negotiating." Bergenske said Fording will try to assuage American concerns by downplaying their development plans and offering to keep open the lines of communication. Don't buy it, Bergenske says. "I guarantee that going to a lot of meetings with Fording won't get you anywhere." The East Kootenai Environmental Society has identified major water quality problems from coal operations in the Elk Valley, including elevated nitrogen which causes algae blooms, selenium pollution and sedimentation. Premier Clark currently is under fire for B.C.'s sluggish economy and the highest unemployment rate in Canada. Given his close ties to Fording and his disappointing environmental record in the southeast corner of the province, it seems unlikely that Clark will be bothered by American entreaties originating from the blip on his huge border that is Montana. Montanans, starting with the Flathead Basin Commission, Gov. Racicot and the congressional delegation, should raise the hue and cry and begin the process of referring Flathead coal mining to the IJC. If development can be delayed, rising concerns about global warming (coal is a major source of greenhouse gases) and shrinking coal markets may combine to kill the proposed mine. As one disillusioned participant in B.C.'s land use planning process advised, "Fight like hell. But fight smart." Steve Thompson of Whitefish is a free-lance writer. This article appeared in the Hungry Horse News (Columbia Falls, MT) on December 11, 1997, and is an expanded version of an article that first appeared in the Missoula Independent. Back to top Basin Commission Updated on Fording's Plans Fording Coal Limited has acquired coal licenses for three parcels of land in the North Fork of the Flathead River drainage in British Columbia, approximately 25 miles north of the border. Dave Grieve, of the B.C. Ministry of Mines, outlined the licensing and environmental review processes required by the B.C. government before mining can begin. He spoke at the Flathead Basin Commission meeting on Dec. 11. Grieve said that Fording is awaiting quality results from nine drill holes at the "Lodgepole" site to verify information obtained from another company's exploration work done in 1979---1981. Rich Moy, head of the Montana Water Management Bureau, reviewed for the basin commission the sequence of events that unfolded in the 1970s when Sage Creek Coal Co. proposed a coal mine just six miles from the border. That proposal sparked the concern of Montanans about the mine's potential impacts on the Flathead River and Flathead Lake, which led to the Flathead River Basin Environmental Impact Study. That study provided previously unavailable information about the Flathead River system. The proposal was referred to the International Joint Commission, but eventually economic conditions caused the proposal to be dropped. Back to top President's Column The words "conservative" and "conservationist" obviously root in the same place. The Flathead Lakers are conservationists because they wish to keep Flathead Lake as clean as it was in the good old traditional bygone days of yore, which also makes them conservative. With that in mind, it's hard to come up with a label for those who would allow the lake to become contaminated. They're hardly liberals because self-described liberals tend to dislike pollution. Progressives? In what direction would some progressives progress? Toward more pollution? Can more pollution be called progress? I suppose it can, because it's possible to progress in the wrong direction. Development is often called progress, and it often adopts the label conservative when it seeks to progress without government interference. But progress in the wrong direction can't properly be called progressive when it contaminates a lake. That's regressive, destructive, where the words progressive and conservative are used as shields for irresponsible greed. But enough of word warping. Straight facts are that Flathead Lake belongs to us all, and is more valuable to us all if it's kept clean. That means citizen groups, laws, government, developers --- all society --- must work together to keep it clean. That defies vague, emotionally manipulative labels such as conservative, progressive, liberal, or anything else. The only appropriate label for keeping the lake clean is conveyed by these words: common sense. Back to top   Educating Future Watershed Citizens The Flathead Lakers will launch a major new education program this spring. A pilot project for the first level of a multi-grade, interdisciplinary watershed education program will begin in the third grade classes at Cherry Valley and Linderman elementary schools in Polson. This program is being funded by a $5,000 grant from the SFC Foundation and by member donations. With the enthusiastic support and encouragement of teachers and administrators, Lakers member and artist Cas Still and Lakers executive director Robin Steinkraus will conduct hands-on science and art activities to introduce the students to physical and ecological concepts related to water as they learn about the Flathead watershed. The program will use the watershed kit produced by the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula, and includes practicing observation skills and recording observations in a watershed journal, learning about the water cycle through experiments and activities, exploring landforms and maps and creating a watershed model, and taking a field trip to the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay, where the focus will be on what lives in the watershed. The program will culminate with story-teller Carol Soth working with the students in an artist's residency. The participating teachers will be provided with the information and materials needed to carry out the program in subsequent years. We plan to expand the program in future years to add two more levels: a stream monitoring project for middle school students, and a high school program of guest lectures by experts on various aspects of environmental problems in the watershed. The program will also be offered to other school districts in the watershed. When the entire three-level program is in place, students who participate in all three levels will have an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the physical, biological and social components of the watershed and their interactions. The skills, knowledge and understanding the students acquire will help them understand the consequences of their future choices, so they can truly become "citizens" of the watershed. Back to top Experts Study Rocky Mountain Changes By Joe Biby What is the scope of human-caused change in the environment of the Rocky Mountains? This question was explored from a variety of scientific viewpoints at a workshop held at the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay last fall. Geographers, ecologists, economists, climatologists and computer modelers were among the experts from all parts of the U.S. and Canadian Rockies who gathered to consider the extent of human-driven change to Rocky Mountain ecosystems. Geographers and economists spoke about the changes in land use as development increases along the largest north-south mountain range on the planet. Where California and the west coast once were the main destination for relocation in our mobile society, the Rocky Mountain region now attracts a growing number of people with its beauty and recreational opportunities. The resulting sprawl is altering the region's landscape with significant ecological consequences. Within the plant and forest communities, for example, dramatic changes are evident. Weeds have invaded the lowlands and are now moving upslope. There are very few success stories in the control of the phenomenal spread of exotic species like purple loosestrife, spotted knapweed, and many others. Fire suppression practices have also had an impact on the distribution of species. Old growth forests of widely spaced Ponderosa pine and other fire-adapted species have been replaced in many areas by homogenized thickets of matchstick forests with interspersed homes. Native grasses have been replaced by introduced plants such as cheatgrass. Western white pine and high elevation whitebark pine forests have been clobbered by the invasion of the white pine blister rust, to list a few examples. Within the aquatic communities, our legacy of water impoundment and diversion has disrupted aquatic life by altering stream and river flow patterns and dramatically influencing water temperatures. As homes and other developments have spread out over floodplains, more and more waterways have had their banks armored against the normal patterns of stream meandering and erosive movement. Stream water quality is nearly always degraded as a result of development that often leads to increased sedimentation and elevated inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater. The invasions of introduced species and diseases have also altered our waterways. The accidental and intentional introduction of non-native and hatchery-raised fishes has disrupted and eliminated, in some cases, many native fish, amphibians, and a host of invertebrate animals. Whirling disease, for example, has plundered trout fisheries and disrupted a significant part of the region's recreation-based economy. Other alterations of Rocky Mountain ecosystems are less direct and are the consequences of actions occurring somewhere else. The long range transport of air pollutants and contaminants is one example of more subtle indirect alterations. Old predatory fishes like lake trout in Canada's Bow and Waterton lakes are reservoirs for surprisingly high levels of harmful chemicals like PCBs (which include pesticides). Snowpack residues for organochlorines increase as you climb in elevation along the Rockies and serve as a reminder of our interconnectedness to global air pollution. UV radiation from loss of stratospheric ozone is steadily increasing. These changes and others point out the vulnerability of the land that serves as a major water supply for a significant part of North America. Some parts of the overall story of change are plainly about irreversible loss. However, there are other changes underway in the region that we may be able to reverse. Many of the concerned scientists who attended the workshop are working to monitor these changes, and are attempting to prioritize those threats that humans can do something about. They plan to produce a book entitled Rocky Mountain Futures: An Ecological Perspective. The challenge lies in convincing the species with wheels that we are vulnerable. Back to top Lakers Develop Strategic Plan The board of directors is pleased to present the Flathead Lakers' first strategic plan. A clear statement of the organization's goals and a new procedure for evaluating the many and various issues and problems affecting water quality in Flathead Lake and its watershed have been developed and adopted by the board. Now we'd like your thoughts. Please contact any of the directors or the Lakers' office with your comments, criticisms, or suggestions. Thanks! Purpose of the Strategic Plan: The strategic plan will guide the Flathead Lakers over the next five years in identifying lake and watershed problems and needs, identifying opportunities to further the mission of the organization, determining priorities for education and action, evaluating the effectiveness of the organization's programs, and presenting a clear message to members, the public, resource managers, and funders. The strategic plan is a guide, not a blueprint, and we recognize the need for flexibility as we face changing opportunities and challenges. The plan will be reviewed and updated two years after adoption. Mission Statement: Water quality in Flathead Lake is a barometer of the ecological health of the entire Flathead ecosystem. Clean water and a healthy ecosystem contribute to the quality of life and economic health in the Flathead watershed. The Flathead Lakers is dedicated to protecting and improving water quality in Flathead Lake and its watershed, to ensuring ecosystem sustainability, and to encouraging economic development consistent with ecosystem integrity. Who are the Flathead Lakers? Constituency: Membership is open to anyone who is concerned with protecting and improving the environ-ment of Flathead Lake and the Flathead watershed (see by-laws). The current membership is composed mainly of local property owners, both full-time and summer residents. Organizational Niche: The Flathead Lakers provides leadership in the protection of Flathead Lake and clean water through education, advocacy and stewardship programs, including: Providing information, expertise and advice on how to protect lake quality Educating citizens about the value of environmen tal quality Encouraging public support for watershed and land use planning Mobilizing the membership on behalf of lake and water quality protection policies Fostering cooperative exchanges with other organizations Focusing on threats to ecosystem integrity which affect water quality Organizational Assets: The organization's longevity and 35-year history of advocacy on behalf of lake quality The organization's favorable reputation among local residents and lakeshore property owners The potential for membership and financial growth Water quality in Flathead Lake and environmental quality in the watershed are still in relatively good shape A specific geographic focus A working relationship with the Flathead Lake Biological Station which has quality scientific data to support policy choices and aid public education programs Relatively large membership base Organizational Liabilities: An organizational structure that is currently inadequate in responding to threats Inadequate decision-making process for expertly evaluating issues A membership base too focused on lakeshore property owners A political environment at both state and county levels that is not sympathetic to our goals Public disagreement with Lakers' stand on the lake level issue Long-term funding base for general organizational operations not yet developed Lack of strong membership recruitment and fundraising programs Assessment of Ecosystem Trends. Flathead Lake is on the threshold of water quality deterioration due to numerous threats: Population growth and unplanned development (a 20% increase in population in less than five years) Sprawl, the loss of open space and more asphalt which increase runoff, degrade the area's scenic beauty and lead to loss of the area's rural character A disturbing trend of reduced funding for moni- toring and resource protection A trend of resistence to controls on development which is promoted by the "wise use" and "property rights" movements Non-native aquatic species which have disrupted the lake's food web, biological health and fisheries The impacts of past logging practices throughout the basin plus current timber cutting on more visible and more sensitive land The impacts of agricultural practices throughout the basin Deterioration in air quality Inadequate public sense of responsibility for stewardship and resource protection Program. The Lakers' main program components are advocacy, education and stewardship. An annual action plan will identify specific objectives and strategies for accomplishing the organization's goals through each of these components. Networking and coalition building will be part of the strategy for achieving program objectives. Advocacy. The Lakers believe quality of life depends on the quality of our environment. The Lakers are advocates on issues that we feel are critical to the organization's mission, but should not necessarily be active on every issue that arises. Listed below are the general issues of concern. Specific issue identification is an ongoing process. Key Issues: Water quality. Water quality in Flathead Lake has declined over the past three decades, and the lake has approached a threshold where more nutrients from human activity in the watershed could result in rapid deterioration in water quality. Land use and watershed planning. The Flathead Lake region is among the fastest growing areas in the state. Haphazard growth and development threaten water quality, ecosystem sustainability and quality of life. Air quality. Air pollution contributes up to 30% of the total nutrient load to Flathead Lake. A new procedure for identifying priorities for action: 1. Thorough research on an issue or problem using multiple sources 2. A discussion of alternative solutions 3. Public information and education concerning the issue 4. Action plan (will be different for each issue) Key Questions: Will our involvement make a differ- ence? What are the consequences of our involvement? Who will we work with on the issue? How much of our resources are we willing to devote to the issue? Alternatives (one or more): No action Education Hands-on project Legislative involvement Litigation Other White Paper. A one to three page sum mary of the issue (with supporting documentation) will be prepared to aid the decision-making process. The executive director will prepare the white paper, with authority to solicit assistance and information from any pertinent source. In some cases it may be necessary to hire an expert on the topic. Each white paper will: State the problem or issue, including salient facts, without bias List alternatives Define the anticipated reaction by various interests to the alternatives, i.e., pros and cons Propose a recommended plan of action Education and stewardship: Education efforts should concentrate on building the constituency for conservation. We will encourage watershed planning as a coordinated approach to the protection of water quality, ecosystem and economic health, and quality of life. We will provide members and other citizens with information and opportunities to become better stewards of land and water. From time to time the Lakers will want to undertake hands-on projects, alone or in cooperation with others, for the purpose of demonstrating a particular technique, accomplishing something that wouldn't otherwise get done, setting an example, promoting visibility of the organization, attracting new members and/or good public relations. Networking and coalition building: We recognize that we cannot accomplish our objectives alone. The Lakers should take a leadership role in identifying and bringing together sympathetic organizations to share information and support and to work together on specific issues or projects. Back to top.