February 2006 • Vol.14, No.1

AWA

Kakwa Falls – (C. Olson)

THE QUIET URBANIZATION OF THE BACKCOUNTRY / 4 WOLVES A CASUALTY IN LITTLE SMOKY / 11

GOVERNMENT SHOOTING ITSELF OVER GRIZZLY HUNT / 18

ALBERTANS SHARE MEMORIES OF ANDY RUSSELL / 22

Editorial Board: PROFILE Shirley Bray, Ph.D. CFebruaryONTENTS 2006 • VOL.14, NO. 1 Andy Marshall 26 LIGHTHAWK SEEKS A PERCH Joyce Hildebrand IN ALBERTA OUT FRONT Printing by: UPDATES 4 THE QUIET URBANIZATION OF Colour printing and process is THE BACKCOUNTRY: PART 2 sponsored by Topline Printing 28 LIVINGSTONE LANDOWNERS 9 THE LAND TRY ALCES

28 GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES ALBERTA WILDERNESS WATCH AWA’S BIGHORN STUDY

WOLVES THE LATEST CASUALTY IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT 11 28 Graphic Design: LITTLE SMOKY INDUSTRIAL PUBLIC GRASSLANDS SOLD FOR Ball Creative STRATEGY WIND FARM

14 IS ENCANA’S PROPOSED DRILLING 28 NEW PUBLIC CONSULTATION Wild Lands Advocate is IN THE SUFFIELD NATIONAL PROCESS FOR MOSS published bimonthly, 6 times WILDLIFE AREA ECONOMICALLY HOWSE PASS HIGHWAY PROPOSAL a year, by Alberta Wilderness SOUND? 29 SURFACES AGAIN Association. The opinions 18 GOVERNMENT SHOOTING ITSELF expressed by the authors OVER GRIZZLY HUNT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR in this publication are not necessarily those of AWA. CROWSNEST LAKE, LAST GEM OF 20 The editors reserve the right THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 29 HOWSE PASS HIGHWAY IS VANDALISM to edit, reject or withdraw 22 ALBERTANS SHARE MEMORIES OF articles and letters submitted. ANDY RUSSELL 30 MORE CARPET BOMBING IN THE LIVINGSTONE-PORCUPINE Please direct questions 23 CWD IS OUT OF CONTROL and comments to: EVENTS 24 WHAT IS A RIVER TO US? Shirley Bray Phone: (403) 270-2736 25 GOVERNMENT SELLING OUT REST 31 OPEN HOUSE PROGRAM Fax: (403) 270-2743 OF MCCLELLAND LAKE WETLAND [email protected] COMPLEX 31 BEING CARIBOU WITH KARSTEN HEUER © Donna Jo Massie Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 Ph: (403) 283-2025 Toll-free 1-866-313-0713 www.albertawilderness.ca AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at Box 6398 Station e-mail: [email protected] D, Calgary, AB T2P 2E1. Ph:(403)283-2025 Fax:(403) 270-2743 E-mail: [email protected] www.albertawilderness.ca SUPPORT ALBERTA A LABOUR OF LOVE WILDERNESS

Last year I was offered the privilege of joining BECOME A LIFETIME AWA MEMBER the Board of Directors of the Alberta Wilderness $25 SINGLE $30 FAMILY Association. This was truly an opportunity to commit to a labour of love and I readily accepted. SUBSCRIBE TO WILD LANDS ADVOCATE $30 SUPPORTER Like many AWA members, my inspiration from wilderness has been a lifelong experience. From my earliest days, my most treasured memories are WILDERNESS CIRCLE $2500+ of my times in the wilderness. One of the great attractions to being a part of PHILANTHROPIST $1000 the Alberta Wilderness Association is the opportunity to associate with so SUSTAINER $500 many others who have a similar depth of passion for the natural world. ASSOCIATE $100 While there are many worthwhile conservation and environmental SUPPORTER $50 organizations, I am particularly attracted to the mission of the Alberta OTHER $ Wilderness Association. I believe that a strong commitment to well-informed WILDERNESS PARTNERS advocacy is the only route to achieving genuine success in this arena. Donate on a monthly basis through direct debit As a board member, I deeply believe that I must give not only my time or credit card payment. but also my money (as meagre as it may be). This organization will not I would like to donate $______monthly. function without financial resources, and if I am not willing to commit some Here is my credit card number OR my voided of mine, how can I ask others to commit any of theirs? cheque for bank withdrawal. Monthly donations While there will always be important day-to-day financial needs, I also are processed on the 1st of the month. believe that it is important to consider how we give this organization the (minimum of $5 month) financial capacity to sustain it through any downturn in its normal sources of WILDERNESS LEGACY CIRCLE support. What do we do, for example, if one year we couldn’t run our highly Make lasting planned gifts by designating your successful Climb for Wilderness? As a donor, then, I contribute to both the bequest directly to AWA or AWA’s Wilderness annual campaigns and the Wilderness and Wildlife Trust Endowment at the and Wildlife Trust Fund managed by the Calgary Foundation. Calgary Foundation. Please call for details. I thank every member of the AWA for their great support of this outstanding organization and look forward to many more years of pursuing this labour of love. PAYMENT INFORMATION

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We are pleased to present again the watercolours of Donna Jo Massie Send payments to: in this issue, this time in colour. Ms. Massie’s biography was published in P.O. Box 6398, Station D Wild Lands Advocate, August 2002 Calgary, AB T2P 2E1 or donate online @ www.albertawilderness.ca 1-866-313-0713 S. Bray In 1985 the Panther Corners At the time, oufitters told AWA AWA told At the time, oufitters

pretty well whatever moved. We found We moved. pretty well whatever to be non-motorized. Long-time users wanted to have the country closed to OHVs before it was destroyed. Forest Land Use Zone (FLUZ) was one of four FLUZes created in the to protect sensitive Wildland Bighorn and scenic areas and wildlife. Except for one trail in the Upper Clearwater, Corners is part of the Prime Protection Corners is part of the Prime Protection Zone (PPZ), the zone with the highest level of protection as designated in the and is supposed Eastern Slopes Policy, six ewes and lambs one time after one six ewes and lambs all shot and weekend in the Clearwater, left. I can tell you stories all day.” Vivian Board of Directors member Pharis that their longstanding and stable tourism business was being As well, Panther ruined by OHVs. OF

2 ART : P A view of the Panther River valley. view of A RBANIZATION U UIET ACKCOUNTRY Q B HE “Not only was it wrecking the THE Pharis Bray and Vivian By Shirley T country, it was hard on the wildlife,” country, in the Upper Clearwater area. “These guys would get in there in a truck, they were ripping and snorting up and and shooting down the river valley, conflicts with outfitters and non- conflicts with outfitters motorized users and put pressure on wildlife. recalls Gary Bracken, a Sundre resident West who has spent many years in the including 28 years outfitting Country, used vehicles to travel part way into used vehicles to travel When Kananaskis Country the area. closed was established and largely to motorized vehicles in 1979, many people migrated north to the Ghost- The and Bighorn areas. Waiparous of vehicle use in the resulting surge central foothills backcountry created seismic roads were opened up in seismic roads were he and others the 1950s and 1960s, The Panther to most people is sacred; it’s kind of the last frontier before the Ya Ha Tinda wildlands. Ha Tinda the Ya before the last frontier kind of it’s people is sacred; The Panther to most Brown used pack horses when Other things have changed, too. Long-time users of the Long-time users of Brown hosted hunters from around from hunters hosted Brown Warm chinook winds push Warm they first started outfitting. When they first started outfitting. backcountry of the west-central Alberta west-central backcountry of the are undeniably Wildland Bighorn Alan protective of its wild character. elk-hunting permits. Currently there are only 17 resident and two non-resident camps The number of hunting permits. has diminished to three or four. Elk numbers have dropped and the government has drastically cut back they see anybody else around there.” that time, he recalls. “They were more more or less The ones now are sociable. of They work a business on their own. a damn if give their own and they don’t camp was rustic but comfortable. In the 1980s to 1990s there were at least was a There 15 to 20 hunting camps. there at class of people up different the world, and often family members the world, and often family members who accompanied them. Camps with canvas tents consisted of large well-run A carpeted or plywood floors. on the west, and is nicknamed “the diamond.” Corners, as it is known, is bounded by the Panther River on the south, the Park Red Deer on the north, and Banff snow from lower slopes and valley floors, making this critical habitat for overwintering wildlife. Panther conifer forests, and craggy foothills. through the broad mountain passes National Park and clear from Banff He remembers the abundant elk that roamed this montane region of rough fescue meadows, open aspen and Brown has fond memories of the many Brown has fond memories of the many years he outfitted in the Panther River area from the late 1950s to 1995. — Ross Legge, Mountain Aire Lodge Aire — Ross Legge, Mountain

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O F 4 OUT FRONT WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 5 S. Bray

“If they want to stay in these hard- Brown agrees – people who Older outfitters like Brown and Opponents to these changes don’t Opponents to these changes don’t Brown has visited the Panther with his family and grandchildren and stayed at a backcountry camp run by Sunset’s “It meant the Duane Papke. owner, world to them to go up there for a The camp weekend like that,” he says. had common tents and dirt floors. nothing wrong with that, he There’s more of a natural way to says. “It’s spend a weekend.” understand what is motivating Forestry understand what is motivating Forestry to to approve them or commercial users think an ask for or accept them. “You’d of all people, would want to outfitter, out of the backcountry,” keep that stuff says Graham. Bracken, now both retired, don’t see any need for more luxurious accommodations in such wild settings. Bracken says modestly that his clients told him that he ran one of the best and most comfortable hunting camps, even though he provided only canvas tents with stoves. walled structures and they want all toilets of these fancy things like flush and the rest of it, well then I guess it’s he says. “Let’s called Jasper of Banff,” not wreck the rest of the country.” want urban amenities should stay in he says. Since his retirement, the city, from the Panther River Adventures lease. Adventures the Panther River from The sheep cliffs on the north side of the river across The sheep cliffs on the north side of the Now forestry officials are However, Walker did alert AWA AWA did alert Walker However, allowing current outfitters to keep items allowing current outfitters such as wooden floors for tents in the if such things are allowed to remain soon will tents soft-walled permanently, be replaced with hard walls, and full- scale cabins will be constructed. was also part of a committee of outfitters that developed standards for commercial backcountry use in 1990. backcountry at preferred locations is approval tacit or official by whether – uncertain. Other users are worried that with a permanent foundation at his base with a permanent foundation at his base Ha Ya camp on the eastern edge of the Walker When Graham objected, Tinda. simply went to Edmonton and got Assistant Deputy approval from then Environment, Cliff Alberta Minister of 12- later sold his Walker Henderson. YWCA. acre lease to the to a backcountry development in the Upper Clearwater on the Red Deer and Tinda Ha Ya River between the The Outpost Park known as Banff Rock, a summer resort Warden’s at Walker with lodge, cabins, and hotel. country has been viewed by some as the catalyst for permanent backcountry resorts in the area. In 1992 Leon Graham took over as chief forest ranger at the Sundre forestry office. Frontier Guiding Alberta of Walker Ed and Outfitting wanted to build a home One development in the front But government management AWA noted in 1985 that with the AWA Large piles of garbage were Large The outfitters went back to The outfitters went including horse-drawn wagons that did not allow old exploration roads to regenerate and resulted in erosion problems, semi-permanent outfitter overuse. camps, and horse and outfitter boundary of the FLUZ, which we AWA discussed in Part 1. In 1989 reported problems in the FLUZ, got long-term leases to build lodges to head their operations on the eastern FLUZ in place restricting motorized of use, the area had a major influx equestrian use, both private and outfitters Two commercial operators. Branch (Forestry) are responsible for land and forest issues in the area. of Sustainable Resource Development (SRD), the Public Lands and Forests Division, and its Forest Operations changes and long-time users are now changes and long-time users are now seeing disturbing changes that are opening up this backcountry to the influences of urbanization. Now part camping standard to prevent camps facilities. from becoming “fixed” removed. Forestry officers also burned removed. Forestry officers also burned including anything left by outfitters, floorboards, tables, cupboards, and tent They prepared a backcountry poles. cleanups, two of which were arranged cleanups, two of which were arranged by Pharis in 1983 and 1984. pack their equipment in and out for The the May to September season. forestry officers promoted backcountry leave any equipment in the backcountry leave any equipment in the backcountry They were required to year-round. wagons. But other changes were in the wagons. But other Mansell Davis ran the When offing. Sundre forestry office in the mid-1980s, no longer he demanded that outfitters gas and forestry activities as well. gas and forestry activities horses and exclusive use of pack public support that made them a public support that Not only have OHVs permanent reality. Panther since, but been kept out of the keep out oil and the public has helped resource plan (IRP) in the early 1980s. (IRP) in the early resource plan on a trial basis They were put in place and it was only persistent for one year, Nordegg-Red Deer River integrated Deer River integrated Nordegg-Red they were all off-limits to motorized motorized to were all off-limits they of the FLUZes creation The activity. residents, by local was recommended Wildlife Fish and and Forestry, AWA, of the the preparation officials during Caring for It is well-known, for example, Legge blames government government blames Legge “Not only do these developments Of special concern is Safron’s Of special concern is Safron’s During Graham’s tenure in the During Graham’s The IRP for the Panther area says for The IRP the same as Legge’s. as Legge’s. the same that septic fields can leak into that septic fields is nearby rivers, and the soil at PRA The 1999 quite porous. concerned users, just down the road from PRA, to keep people from He says camping too close to the river. they spent time reclaiming the area lease to protect the west of Safron’s bighorn sheep that frequent the cliffs across the river and are known to cross over through that area. request to separate his Commercial lands removes them from free public lands removes them from free public letter of objection. AWA’s access,” says “Preventing such developments and limiting their expansion is especially important along the banks of rivers.” Alberta government recommends using pump-out holding tanks instead of septic fields. Graham, who does environmental inspections for Sunview Environmental Services, says if the no necessary setbacks are put in, there’s room for any developments. Nothing, he says, should be built between Panther Road and the river: everything is at risk from flooding. Furthermore, from the should be measured buffers high water mark. Sundre Forestry office, they built a basic campground, with help from incompetence: “The only reason I “The only reason incompetence: years ago was place five bought this this by [SRD] that I was reassured one of the only facilities would be He a commercial lease.” ever granted would always PRA thought Sunset and as they outfits, be small trailriding worried about he’s were intended. Now investment. losing his substantial be limited to accommodation will camp facilities, campground and base permanent which does not include foundations. structures with concrete developments like view is that AWA’s belong on private land or Safron’s in nearby towns, and that long-term leases of public lands for tourism developments should be phased out. diminish the wildland character of the landscape, privatization of these public by the Alberta by the Properties Shoreline and the Association Conservation

L. Graham

] for 10 years.” Apparently he Apparently sic] for 10 years.” Ross Legge, owner of Mountain In August 2005, Safron poured 2005, Safron poured August In doesn’t know how that statement got in. got statement that how know doesn’t the market will support all these developments. His required setbacks from the Red Deer River are 60 m for the lodge and 200 m for the fuel tank. He already competes with Sunset, just the east of PRA. Don Livingston, out of increased Sunset’s Clearwater office, lease to 20 acres and a 25-year term, a large concrete pad, complete with concrete pad, a large Although he has only owned the lease since spring 2002, his application says they “have had managers live at this sight [ Several times in his application, he says that the topography naturally slopes away from the river. Aire Lodge, was surprised by the proposal, which will dwarf his believe operation, and he doesn’t and Panther Road. and Panther a permit from plumbing, without nothing about Hawkes, who knew resident. it until told by a local new cabins have Apparently all the Safron been pre-built in Eckville. company that is running a trucking up the rather services oil companies and he expects busy Panther Road, have up to 50 his new operation to yet he has complained vehicles a day, speed of traffic. about the volume and an even narrower strip of land. Safron of land. Safron strip narrower an even that road a reclaimed to rebuild plans area and the middle of this runs through it and campsites between put cabins

Panther River Adventures base camp in the Panther FLUZ. Adventures Panther River A bladed access to this camp for wagons was made last year. bladed A The Panther Road follows the In part 1 of this series, we covered this series, we covered In part 1 of While Safron was phoning AWA AWA phoning While Safron was the trail maintenance exploits of PRA of PRA exploits the trail maintenance Although given Safron. Terry owner the west of the current lease and is on the west of the current lease and is on eight km up the road in a narrow piece eight km up the road in a narrow piece of land between the road and the river, The on what is clearly the floodplain. from the river is a mere 20 buffer The proposed extension lies to meters. south side of the Panther River from lies about the forestry trunk road. PRA concrete foundations. He wants to sell concrete foundations. He wants to sell liquor and fuel, and have a 25-year lease. seven buildings, he wants to add 25 campsites, 12 self-contained cabins with lofts, a store, a shower house, and permanent another septic field, his operation by about eight acres. In addition to the development he already has, which includes at least activities, he was busy preparing activities, he was busy Recreational Tourism Alberta an application to expand Lease (ATRL) to complain about our report of his to complain about the road from his lease. Norman the road from his lease. officer in the Hawkes, a forestry was sent says Safron Blairmore office, that infraction, but a warning letter over will be laid. no charges the Panther FLUZ, he also conducted FLUZ, he also conducted the Panther permission, some activities without a meadow across including blading up permission by SRD to do trail work in by SRD to do trail permission Panther River Adventures Ups Adventures River Panther the Ante the

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O F 6 OUT FRONT WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 7 The recent approval for The recent approval But opponents want the rules of not with the idea of maintaining trails, not with the idea of maintaining trails, but with the method. Long-time users see nothing wrong with the old way – using picks and shovels to fill ruts, and axes and saws to cut through fallen trees. Otherwise they think nature They should be left to take its course. believe in bringing machinery don’t into a non-motorized FLUZ just for a get over it few outfitters. “If you can’t belongs to all of us,” says Bracken. Bracken. of us,” says to all belongs The chosen few.” just a not “It’s scheduled for February meeting is rules, the land ATRL 17. Under public can recommend further manager if there is a significant involvement issue at management natural resource or location of the stake, such as the size project or water issues. in mechanized trail maintenance is seen by some the Panther FLUZ on the as another urban assault Some people who have backcountry. trails have used the newly bladed to navigate found them to be easier now interested in with wagons and are of the trail system. “fixing” other parts The use of wagons seems to be a main driving force. the FLUZ enforced, and that means no motorized vehicles at all, except for Their criticism is situations. emergency Bighorn sheep on the Panther River cliffs.

“In my opinion it should be a

anyone brought up the MLL issue, anyone brought up the MLL That attitude of he would walk out. a public meeting that addresses all the a public meeting that addresses all the issues and all their concerns. public meeting because that country perceived cowardice and arrogance did not sit well with anyone. Some Lund, who supported Ty phoned MLA and agreed to concerns his constituents’ What they want is look into the matter. G. Bracken G. to the Panther River Adventures lease. Adventures to the Panther River The reclaimed road on the proposed extension on the proposed road The reclaimed On January 24, Rick Blackwood, Later, under pressure from the under pressure Later,

manager of the Calgary Forestry office, manager of the Calgary Forestry office, people (later raised to 20) and that the agenda be solely about trails. If disenfranchised group, Blackwood agreed to meet them on the condition that the meeting was limited to 12 their concerns about trail maintenance MLL, but Blackwood and Safron’s refused. many of them were long-time users to meet The group offered of the area. with Blackwood afterwards to discuss Blackwood that they were not allowed They were told in, not even to listen. though stakeholders, even they weren’t concerned users of the area who were not invited found out about the meeting and showed up only to be told by meeting in Sundre, the second closed- door meeting about this area, to address possible future mechanized trail work of number large A FLUZ. Panther the in and Hawkes held an invited stakeholder and Hawkes held an invited stakeholder Old Ways Clash with New Ways Old Management some wonder if the same proliferation some wonder if the same proliferation of structures will happen there, given attitude of Forestry. the laissez-faire never been done before. Many believe never been done before. Many believe If he keeps he will sell one or the other. the CTR, he will still have a base camp and river, the on right also FLUZ, the in Trail Riding (CTR) permit from his Trail This has Miscellaneous Lease (MLL). S. Bray S. This time around, Forestry is Some say that a bridge and Some say Any big changes will be “I often wonder,” wrote a citizen wrote “I often wonder,” SRD.” He refused to speak on behalf of SRD and said that permits issued would on position give an indication of SRD’s backcountry developments. in 1986 in support of keeping the FLUZ, “why those lobbies who are ready to abuse the natural environment for their personal gain always seem to on government have more influence referred to the Bighorn Backcountry was AWA Monitoring Group, a group not allowed to participate in because of our opposition to OHVs in the Prime Protection Zone of the Bighorn It would be ironic for this Wildland. group to make decisions about a non- There is concern that motorized FLUZ. if mechanized trail work is allowed, be far behind in snowmobilers won’t they demanding access and arguing have less impact. Considering how the Bighorn access management planning process was conducted, that fear is not unrealistic. determined to do things more formally than just sign a permit without knowing have agreed to do the details. Officials a site visit before committing to any further trail work, but Hawkes refuses to ride a horse into the FLUZ. Hawkes has admitted to everyone that he was in error approving the last permit, but also said he was “giving approval under the directive and policy that we have with about wild ungulates crossing the river? the crossing wild ungulates about graze just cows that about the What banks? along the unfenced downstream on the urban developments What about river banks? the trails will just turn manicured park, like Panther into another an interesting Kananaskis. It’s it shows how comparison because this area. much wilder they consider will open the Opponents say a bridge government the but traffic, OHV to area of respect thinks the current level just need to is adequate and they change. Since make sure that doesn’t to do much have the staff they don’t rules in the rest enforcement of OHV unlikely they will of the Bighorn, it’s do so here. One hunter has been known to drive into the FLUZ to set up his to camp and then blatantly pay the fine Forestry.

S. Bray

Now there is talk of putting AWA thinks the FLUZ should be AWA Forestry officials are pushing the are pushing Forestry officials not wanting horses to defecate in the That reason just river and pollute it. What makes people shake their heads. extended to include a ban on horse- drawn wagons, as they are almost as damaging as motorized vehicles. They are causing erosion and keeping trails from rehabilitating as well as contributing to backcountry urban development. a portable bridge over the Panther River where horses and wagons cross from Panther Road into the FLUZ. there was mention of Besides safety, safety factor. Livingston is worried Livingston safety factor. about liability – that people will sue if trails are not maintained. But opponents have any patience for that don’t “Anyone who signs up for argument. extreme sports, and I think these things should be can be put in that category, made to understand, under your own risk,” says Nancy Graham, who was allowed to attend the January meeting because she and her husband are now part owners of Barrier Mountain Outfitters, east of Sunset. now want to corduroy them? now want considered. Bracken is concerned that concerned is Bracken considered. is trail maintenance if mechanized After will it end? where allowed now, he says, to the top of the hill, riders get they Will wet meadows. they encounter is in the foreground, across the river is the FLUZ. the river is the FLUZ. across is in the foreground, One of the crossings on the Panther River. Panther Road River. on the Panther One of the crossings One of the main issues is the Brown says he used wagons for a new trail to avoid this route is being Suicide Hill. Both this trail and the less steep Grocery Hill trail are eroding and becoming less negotiable for The only other trail follows wagons. crossings; the river and involves five after they cross the Panther River into up the There are two trails the FLUZ. hill, and the steeper one is nicknamed the water under those conditions. steep hill that riders must negotiate just better than to put a team of horses into his lease. He found his overloaded wagon overturned in a rapidly rising Panther River and the belongings of two families strewn down the river. in the area knew Experienced outfitters to overload their wagons and use horses that are too small. Safron himself fell into this trap before he bought into a teamster in the backcountry is an art a teamster in the backcountry is an art They don’t that takes a lot of practice. They tend know the country well either. years and never had a problem. But now more and more inexperienced people are buying a team of horses and realize that being a wagon and don’t get your wagon in there, then you in there, then get your wagon how to tie a diamond.” better know problem, he says the that’s And maybe them don’t. – some of the way it is, then I guess you have to you have I guess it is, then the way an alternate route or alternate find an you can’t says Bracken. “If method,”

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O F 8 OUT FRONT WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 9 — Unknown d that contributes to How the Land nourished human The story of backcountry The story of backcountry call human will blossomed within the hearts and minds of many. to be open and accountable for their for their accountable open and to be of the the rules to follow and decisions ago. they fought for years FLUZ that says country,” all beautiful “I think it’s least have “and some of us at Bracken, it that way.” to try to keep Eastern Slopes urbanization in the part since we wrote has grown ATRL Two 1 in December 2005. been made, applications have since in this issue. one of which is discussed our next will continue this series in We and the issue with other developments in the Eastern history of urbanization means for our Slopes and what it wilderness. to be victorious, not accepting defeat. move onward, to carry on, and To to continue to pursue are character traits that humanity has achieved from strength we A the land.” “living off To press on, to gather strength, To Those who want to see the Panther Those who want to “I don’t blame anybody for blame “I don’t There’s people who have been in been in who have people There’s

was just not good enough because the To end would come – without delay! sing a hymn of human determination is experiences in dealing with it. to develop resolve and not give up became the fruits of our encounter with simply wait for the end To the Land. retain its wildness know they have to keep pressuring the government motorized, says Legge. “And here SRD says Legge. “And motorized, traditional of snubbing the is just kind there and going in way of working permits for work to anyway and issuing and Blackwood are be done.” Hawkes overcome to hard work to have to going this growing distrust. there,” says wanting to go back begrudge Bracken, “and I don’t not there, but let’s anybody going back you lose it, and abuse it. Because then nothing for anybody.” there’s there for 40 years and more who feel who and more for 40 years there lands, of their sacred a violation it’s it non- hard to keep and they fought W.E. Davies W.E. AND L HE T E. Davies By William SRD says they have the authority they have the authority SRD says It is from the Land that we The Land is simply not just “the What is a land issue? I think I am not complete in myself. I am a link in the chain of life. Each day I bear something onwar I am not complete in myself. I am a link end this serves – but I know it is something vital to the world. experience. I may never know to what to do whatever they think necessary, they think necessary, to do whatever confusion. jurisdictional wrangling have created jurisdictional wrangling for people an opening, some believe, like Safron to take advantage of the people there, they insist, would never people there, they Incompetence and allow these things. one inexperienced newcomer to the one inexperienced They want the administration valley. back to the of the Panther moved Forestry The Clearwater office. is motivating Forestry to overturn the is motivating Forestry of the influence old ways, except for but because of past actions, people of past actions, but because to do the right thing trust Forestry don’t understand what They don’t anymore. policy than those who care about about who care than those policy for [future] of it intact some preserving generations.” broke our hearts, but we learned from is a mother that never dies.” Life its revelations, its – its journey, disappointments – receives energy from the Land in response to agrarian The Land and settlement ambition. derive our subsistence – our existence. “The Land The Maori people say, help us chart our present and future land uses and our undeniable obligation to use land wisely. illustrations from the past on how humans are linked by close union with the Land. Illustrations can be used to land.” It should never be taken for granted and we should not overlook to the needs and aspirations of those among us whose ties to the land were and are historical. viewpoints, then, become “the issues.” viewpoints, then, become “the issues.” And issues need an anthem, a rallying cry! Our world, our sociological makeup, is becoming more indifferent it certainly could be discordant viewpoints on land use. Opposing ? forward The Land has never ceased to Hmmm … promoting an anthem The Land became for many their The Land became of prompting The Land is capable , Charlie tells of a sketch and card mailed to Guy Weadick, the Weadick, card mailed to Guy the loudest, like that of Zeussian wild mountain thunder in a far-off, valley? How the manipulations of man and time march … Perhaps both should merely waltz on listen as the and by with sensitive effort The landscape summons whispers from Land. the Bearberry Heritage Centre *from increasingly have less choice about how we wish to live.”* stimulate objections on its use. In American Charlie Russell’s Paper Talk: West driving force behind the creation of An excerpt the Calgary Stampede. from the card, dated October 13, 1912, I received your says this: “Friend Guy. postal and letter and was glad to hear I left were so busy when You from you. I did not get to thank you for the good time we had at the Stampede. I came west 31 years ago, at that time, barring the Indians and a few scattered whites, the country belonged to God, but now the real estate man and nesters have got most of it grass side down … your friend, C M Russell.” for land issues. It certainly appears nothing new and it affirms that it’s that the chorus may never subside. So, whose chorus will linger and resonate office from her home on the homestead the homestead home on from her office with settlers and furs goods and traded Stoney Indians. General and many exactly that: general store meant coffee the smell of store. Remember leather how it blended with beans and goods.”* inspiration for a personal phoenix – Thoughts in their own life. resurgence colour a dream, of “the Land” can uses a palette to much like an artist was a colour a painting. “George His thought often strayed far dreamer. Canada. It was a across the ocean to could build a new country where a man his family.”* life for himself and the “prophet” personality in some of (moose Ta-o-tha us. Past Stoney elder killer) in part predicted that the white governors “will impose laws on us; there will be more and more rules, regulations and permits; we will

W.E. Davies I The Timothy Eaton The Timothy modern society. gleaming modern society. or prairie bible as many named The Land is not far removed from Until very recently, contrary Until very recently, The Land affords us the capacity The Land affords Walt Whitman writes: “The earth Whitman writes: “The earth Walt Catalog it. Grandma operated a store and post to alter a disposition the “world” has prescribed or imposed upon us providing an opportunity for self-reflection. In a sense, we are momentarily detached or lost from that I’ll open my eyes world. “Tomorrow to Mother Sun, and I, smelling the fragrance of nature, shall greet her” ( Daniels-Paucette). Terri am lost by our age of It still remains close to how it was used by previous cultures. “Along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains Band of Stoney Indians Wesley the (Na-ko-da people) hunted in the upper and Clearwater, reaches of Red Deer, mountain A North Saskatchewan rivers. people: as recently as the early 1900’s, they used to ride over the divide to the Columbia River valley and trade blankets, saddles and bridles for horses with the Shuswap.”* land use (non-nomadic) produced farmer/settler lifestyle. a different used to read “We Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first.… Be not discouraged. Keep on, there are divine things well envelop’d.… I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.” never tires.… THE EARTH is rude, THE EARTH never tires.… silent, incomprehensible at first.… Recollections of the Homestead ). The Land inspires the human Many more stories similar to spirit. Its inspiration is universal. We We spirit. Its inspiration is universal. that of George and Grace’s must have and Grace’s that of George and Grace had happened. “George Trails other” ( zero, days on end. Many cattle froze But, I do to death in the deep snow. remember the good times of how the neighbors walked miles to help each of 1906-07 was bitter cold: 35 below and chattering little squirrels peek from the branches of tall spruce and pine. our first settlers this was God’s To country, But if this was God’s country. winter The then where has God gone? in the sunshine. Here wild horses mingle with the moose, deer and elk. Black bear also roam the forest floor by written word. “Our valleys and foothills stretch for miles towards the mountains, where frosted peaks glisten can be inspired in a very personal way or even be moved to capture the moment using diverse art forms or determination to live. Their cabin was burned to the ground. Their cabin was burned to the ground. All they saved were their two guns and what they were wearing.”* If there is of human will, there is no no “forging” three sons, Hugh, Freddie and Stan. pleasant reading. My husband died in pleasant reading. My husband died in a drowning accident in 1955 and was never found…”* Christerssen: “I shall not dwell long on the sad incidents in my life, but try to make this a cheerful story and will is beautifully summed up by H.

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O F 10 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 11

“The Little Smoky herd is in real Wolf populations rebound very populations rebound Wolf MOKY

is reclaimed, which would be extremely is reclaimed, which would be extremely difficult with increasing industrial activity. trouble,” says Boutin. “There are a The whole bunch of remedies needed.” cull may only buy a little more time for the herd, delaying the extirpation by perhaps another five years. For caribou to have a chance, there has to be a slow-down of activity in caribou habitat, something never seen in Alberta, combined with aggressive management. Boutin says a big to indicator of government commitment saving caribou habitat would be in the control of land sales, and there has been The government’s no evidence of that. the wolf cull as being “completely the wolf cull as being in the short term.” He points ineffective a wolf cull must out that to be effective, per cent of the wolf remove at least 50 that level over population and maintain a number of years. stops, while caribou quickly once a cull populations are virtually unaffected in the first year by wolf culls, and culls Wolf they recover more slowly. would have to continue while caribou populations rebound and then may have to continue for many years until habitat rglin rglin ü S B R. ITTLE L IN

ASUALTY C Crown petroleum and natural The government’s choice to use a choice to use The government’s “The Tories should listen to should listen to Tories “The ) of those sales occurred in and ATEST 2 TRATEGY biology professor who researches population ecology of boreal mammals and predator relationships, describes the problem as they’re allowing it.” gas rights were being publicly AWA for sale during January. offered estimates that 9,472 hectares (94.72 km immediately adjacent to Little Smoky These lease sales are in caribou habitat. addition to the current maze of oil and gas and forestry activity in the Little Smoky. wolf cull at this time is controversial. Alberta Stan Boutin, a University of Dr. Resource Development (SRD) critic. Resource Development believe wolves are the main “I don’t issue. Encroachment of industry is the problem and the government is part of a moratorium on industrial activity in a moratorium on industrial management the Little Smoky until by the finalized recommendations are ACC. says Bill Bonko, their own experts,” Sustainable Alberta Liberal’s the L S THE

OLVES NDUSTRIAL By David Samson, AWA Conservation Specialist Conservation AWA Samson, By David W I

“There is no point in killing The Alberta government has The Wallis says the government Wallis AWA Files AWA has absolutely zero credibility on supports AWA wildlife conservation. and the resource industries are ensuring that both wolves and caribou will die to make way for resource extraction.” “Caribou need secure habitat in which Alberta populations can be restored. caribou survival is being wiped out at an Wallis, the same time,” says Cliff ACC member and past-president of the (AWA). Association Wilderness Alberta caribou habitat. wolves to save caribou if habitat for cannot be done without concurrently deferring industrial activity in key Alberta Caribou Committee (ACC) has Alberta Caribou Committee (ACC) has already stated that the culling of wolves are selling more oil and gas leases in are selling more oil Smoky herd. the habitat of the Little own newly formed The government’s to keep the caribou from becoming to keep the caribou Ghosts of the literally the “Grey time they at the same Yet Boreal.” started culling wolves in the Little started culling wolves misguided effort Smoky region in a by The Concerns about the impact of Concerns about the different things. The Little Smoky Smoky The Little things. different Foothills Resource Allocation Study Foothills Resource region had been considered for considered had been region At a for many years. protection protecting and managing minimum, to sustain caribou some habitat thread has been a common recovery and myriad of committees through a over the decades. government policies Smoky caribou industry on the Little as 1973. were indicated as early Forests noted that Alberta Lands and from could suffer ungulate populations brought by increased hunting pressure the Berland improved access within the Little Smoky Planning District of and Alberta Energy region. In 1980 major Natural Resources identified concerns over the impacts of timber harvesting and mineral extraction and the need for a regional plan for the Little Smoky area Little Smoky area Over the years, what the AWA, along with seven along with AWA, D. Smith Conflicting Messages and Actions and Conflicting Messages government has said it wants to do with the Little Smoky caribou and what it has actually done have been two very other leading national and Alberta Alberta national and other leading concluded organizations, environmental is not Alberta government that the its steps under taking meaningful to maintain caribou recovery plan are at immediate risk caribou herds that a eight groups filed The of extirpation. Act at Risk petition under the Species 2005 with the (SARA) in December the Environment federal Minister of to issue asking the federal government order to take action to an emergency protect the caribou. the herd is the immediate focus of the focus of immediate is the the herd ACC. (SARA), (May 2004) identifies (May 2004) identifies Species at Risk Act Species at Risk The question is how committed Wright points out that caribou Wright Wildlife researcher Jonathan Wildlife Ultimately, Boutin believes that Boutin believes Ultimately, the Little Smoky herd as being at “immediate risk of extirpation” and the provincial government must have a recovery plan implemented by Caribou The Alberta Woodland 2007. Recovery Plan provincial and federal government in Under the 1987 and 2000, respectively. federal directive to see woodland caribou woodland caribou was The recover. listed as an endangered species by the the government is in its stated intentions and legally mandated be too late to save the much diminished Little Smoky herd. should not have gone ahead without prior assessment of its effectiveness, a time-consuming task. Caribou may as a population numbers rely on large and it may therefore survival strategy, were previously hunted very heavily, were previously hunted very heavily, that but numbers, population depressing now industry is giving wolves better access to caribou. He says the cull not just the caribou.” activity and caribou recovery should be approached on a regional scale. “We have to look at the entire ecosystem, industry on caribou in Chinchaga for a industry on caribou in Chinchaga for echoes locally operating oil company, suggestion that human Boutin’s Dr. caribou is diminishing, and it may be at caribou is diminishing, and it may be a point of no return. of who studied the effects Wright, judiciously at which areas are good and judiciously at which areas are good and focus our conservation dollars on those for value area’s Smoky Little The areas. caribou and that a broader and more caribou and that a approach is needed. regional landscape He suggests that we may have to look believes that with increasing human believes that with increasing there is a higher risk of losing activity, would be needed, and we would have would be needed, and much the benefits to start now to see But Boutin does not necessarily later. on industrial agree with a moratorium He Smoky. activity in the Little is overwhelming industry best practices industry best is overwhelming applecart of habitat.” and has “upset the reclamation Many years of habitat management.” management.” allowed industrial activity the level of mindset, he says, is to maximize is to maximize he says, mindset, is and this land sales, from revenues land the face of (effective) “flying in

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W W 12 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 13 If we lose the Little Smoky The government may be leading In a March 2005 response to a response 2005 In a March In the legislature in November concerned Albertan, SRD Minister Albertan, SRD Minister concerned so that companies can operate on all caribou ranges.” caribou herd it will be a poignant statement of our ongoing failure to sustain the habitat necessary for our wildlife that was brought back from the brink of extinction in the last century. That greatest conservation success story is being constantly eroded. Albertans to tell them the good news/ bad news scenario: the bad news is that we’re going to have to lose our Little Smoky caribou; the good news is we’re rich. But I suppose that depends on your definition of wealth. “Well, that’s the Alberta Advantage.” Alberta the that’s “Well, very wrote: SRD “is David Coutts woodland about the status of concerned Alberta and caribou throughout The herd. the Little Smoky particularly, a number of department is considering this dwindling strategies to conserve escalating interest herd relative to an A development. in oil/gas and timber Caribou Recovery Woodland provincial Once review. Plan is currently under the is finalized, the Recovery Plan implement locally challenge will be to conservation strategies, effective other land use while trying to honor contribute to our commitments that economy.” 2005, he revealed more clearly the strategy for industrial government’s promoting Little Smoky: “We’re industry best practices more widely © Donna Jo Massie were created. 2 from key winter key winter from caribou) (woodland these habitat because would destroy activities food sources, increase food sources, from other competition and lead ungulates, to greater predation by wolves. It did not appear possible, the report continued, to protect the Little Smoky caribou herd without compromising existing compromising existing forestry commitments. the “The extent to which When conservation groups met Based on the logging and By 2000, the Special Places The report concluded, “The

with SRD staff in February 2005 about in February with SRD staff petroleum industries’ activities since petroleum industries’ economic benefits of maintaining the economic benefits the caribou issue, SRD acknowledged concerns about habitat fragmentation but their bottom line was, by industry, just more than 37 km Neither area seems to be of any value to industry: one is a sliver of land in a canyon that harbours goats; the other is a slim section of land protecting a river The government chose sites that valley. with industry and had the least conflict that meant eliminating the Little Smoky caribou range from protection. Advantage Alberta The protect remaining caribou herds.” 1994, the decision on whether to save the Little Smoky herd may have already been made, intentionally or not. process, which was supposed to identify and protect valuable public lands, was near completion. Large portions of the Little Smoky region were put forward as candidate areas, especially due to the woodland caribou totaling Areas Natural two Only habitat. activity in key winter ranges) is not activity in key winter known and may be irreversible.” Little Smoky woodland caribou are not primarily because caribou are not large, non- the Yet, a marketable commodity. of protecting caribou market benefits are quite high, as demonstrated by Albertans actively evidence that many participated in non-consumptive wildlife activities, and that people in Saskatchewan are prepared to pay to herd can survive such changes (logging herd can survive such of industrial intrusion in the Little Smoky. in the Little Smoky. of industrial intrusion This recent satelite image shows the extent satelite image This recent The 1994 Fox Creek Knight In that same year, an economic In that same year, A 1993 draft Berland Subregional 1993 draft Berland A

Subregional IRP described the Little Subregional IRP would require precluding timber development harvesting and energy evaluation produced for the IRP stated evaluation produced for the IRP that while the Regional Directors’ Committee had recommended that this herd be protected, complete protection other industrial activities will consider caribou needs. caribou and its habitat priority by and stating that oil and gas, timber, would be used to conserve caribou, guide activities throughout the area, and maintain the integrity of caribou give The plan appears to habitat. Smoky area as having a core area of caribou habitat and stated that a range of management techniques caribou populations, and maintaining or caribou populations, and maintaining increasing suitable terrestrial habitat. objectives were stated that included maintaining the integrity of caribou range, stabilizing and increasing protect many sensitive species, such as caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and elk. Broad management remote area over the last decade, the creation of surface access by these to industries had necessitated efforts the area and emphasized the potential the area and emphasized the potential It noted that problems from industry. as demands for mineral and timber resources had increased in the once Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) recognized the importance of retaining habitat in order to sustain wildlife in such as services and transportation networks. area. They recommended that access to They area. because of the certain areas be limited secondary impacts of industrial activity, ©Digital Globe/Google ©Digital C. Wallis

Species REA A (SARA) recognizes the ILDLIFE EnCana is proposing infill drilling, EnCana is proposing infill The SNWA is one of the few The SNWA W development in a National Wildlife Wildlife development in a National This Area would simply be prohibited. would be in keeping with Canada’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on Conservation of Biological Diversity and statements made by the Liberal government on the topic. EnCana Focuses on Bottom Line undertaken primarily by directionally wildlife areas for aesthetic, cultural, and other reasons, ecological, scientific one would think extensive industrial government must bring the same focus government must bring to enhancing the and determination to restoring the environment as it did the Will financial health.” government’s government reject new Conservative recent proposal to outright EnCana’s gas wells over drill up to 1,275 shallow in the nationally the next three years significant SNWA? remaining homes for the biodiversity Canada is committed to protecting. Since the preamble to the intrinsic value of wildlife in all its forms and the value to Canadians of at Risk Act at Risk ATIONAL N UFFIELD S THE

IN

Canada strongly voiced its Any slowing of the breakneck Any slowing of the opposition to the U.S. government’s opposition to the U.S. government’s Arctic Alaskan plan to drill in the Refuge (ANWR). Wildlife National to maintain the ecological integrity of Refuge.” Wildlife Arctic National the He was supported by Stephane Dion, who stated in a budget speech, “The Will the Federal Government the Federal Government Will Champion Suffield? Then-Prime Minister Paul Martin was will pull out all the stops adamant: “We by preventing additional production This where its social cost is highest. because takes us directly to the SNWA of, among other things, its enormous value as a benchmark for biodiversity in a region where it is the only block of unimpaired remaining large prairie grassland with such a “rich assemblage” of endemic species. contributing to the problem of contributing to the by shortages future and waste economic incentives for irresponsibly providing of housing and continued construction that is not energy other infrastructure efficient. is a step pace of proposed production but the greatest in the right direction, realized will be economic efficiency RILLING D ? OUND S ROPOSED P S ’ NCANA E CONOMICALLY S Should the federal government Should the federal As Alberta’s future unfolds, Alberta’s As It is also justified, from a wider It is also justified, The new mentality, which The new mentality, E By Henry Binder By Henry I risk sacrificing the Suffield National risk sacrificing the to join the Area (SNWA) Wildlife pace of resource development, which and provides market incentives for, of less integration allows time for, socially costly renewable substitutes. Through its natural gas rebate policy, Alberta government is presently the future costs of current high depletion rates weigh heavily in favour of intervention for a more sustainable current, already disruptive, industrial These indirect disturbances look mild. shortages arise. the ravaging of land, rationalized by will make the need for more supply, prohibits Canada from reducing exports to serve domestic needs when future throughout much of the province will bring on too much near term production at the expense of future a problem whose consequences supply, which are exacerbated by NAFTA, proposed frantic rate of drilling perspective, by the need to correct failure to achieve the for the market’s rate of depletion economically efficient currently The gas reserves. Alberta’s of project. social cost of risking its degradation far social cost of risking its degradation far realized from greater than the benefit Accordingly, faster gas production. refusing to allow additional drilling on the can be justified in the SNWA analysis for the basis of a cost/benefit recognizes the value of natural capital, recognizes the value of natural capital, perhaps as a unique, reveals the SNWA priceless natural asset, making the mentality of seeing these as opposing mentality of seeing these as opposing objectives. can achieve both environmental can achieve both environmental economic stewardship and greater end the old and help efficiency, additional natural gas wells in the additional natural gas Canada SNWA, Canadian Forces Base “party” and promote more economic “party” and promote to allow EnCana waste? By refusing proposed drilling of Corporation’s

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W W 14 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 15 , a The , is that only fossil In passing, we might also Interestingly, the film also the Interestingly, Some will argue that high Some will argue business interests and is not necessarily sound economics, which is concerned with the public interest. take note of the enormous social costs imposed by greenhouse gas emissions, another area of concern where corporate pursuits are finally, giving way but slowly and reluctantly, social cost because new technology convincing A will come to the rescue. response made in a recent film, End of Suburbia fuels can provide the very cheap form necessary to sustain current of energy and that American lifestyles North hopes for the future, like hydrogen and other substitutes, are not feasible solutions because of, among other input required things, the high energy to produce them. points out that the neo-conservative movement recognizes this and openly to advocates force, if necessary, maintain supply of oil from the Middle Albertans, East as long as it lasts. be concerned about needn’t however, an invasion because, judging from the way we vote, we have willingly submitted to the exploitation and intend to continue to put our future at risk in exchange for business activity: namely, the current boom. Perhaps one day we will come to realize that more business short-term sometimes mainly benefits that impose a future external cost on all cost future external a that impose of the possibility namely, Canadians: its negative shortages and all significant including widespread consequences, described destruction, as future habitat the paper carried in In a 2004 below. Economic Perspectives Journal of economists, number of mainstream reiterate Arrow, including Kenneth insight of the the universally accepted efficiency discipline that economic resource and prevention of excessive “prices help to policy requires depletion and environmental of natural resources their resources better approximate Alberta, this requires social costs.” In to make government intervention of their external companies pay more costs of production, including higher royalties as well as carbon and other environmental costs. corporate discounting of the value of future supply imposes no external

C. Wallis By allowing gas companies to There may be many interrelated in response to profit: namely, sell as in response to profit: namely, appreciation. pursue the very high rates of extraction, we are letting them make decisions be concern that the party and windfall Albertans profits may soon end as come to appreciate that they are being charmed into selling their resource legacy for a pittance while paying high prices to buy “their” gas back at it is more the retail level. However, Alberta government’s likely that the policy of appeasement – evidenced by natural gas rebates, distribution of petro-dollars, and keeping the economy this overheated – will stave off there is economic waste, with too much there is economic waste, with too much near term production at the expense of future supply. corporate reasons for the excessive pace of development, including the desire for growth; the maximizing of shareholder value; the opportunity to simply deplete and invest elsewhere; concern that substitutes, maybe renewables, will reduce the profitability of future gas development; and concern for future limitations on even There may carbon production. much as you can as fast as you can. This outdated perspective served the public interest when supplies were thought virtually limitless, but those days are gone. For a non-renewable requires resource, economic efficiency limitations on current production to make gas available at higher prices in This the future, as it becomes scarcer. rationing is not occurring. Instead, Pronghorns in the Middle Sand Hills in the Middle Pronghorns The market failure, associated To demonstrate this inefficiency, demonstrate this inefficiency, To with faster gas recovery, is similar in with faster gas recovery, is called to what in economics effect This is the “tragedy of the commons.” one need only appreciate that the gas industry is behaving as it always has current external costs but also the future costs that its actions impose on society. only looks at private costs and not the external cost that his/her catch imposes in the natural gas on others. Similarly, in a mad dash to context, each player, disregards not only recover quickly, ultimately leads to dramatic depletion of fish stocks to the detriment of all because The problem arises concerned. each fisherman, in calculating cost, each producer is to take as much as This possible, as quickly as possible. usually illustrated by the example of overfishing, in which the incentive for Social Costs of the Mad Dash wait 25 to 30 years when shallow gas wait 25 to 30 years when shallow gas pools can profitably be depleted in 10 to 12 years. quickly add to the bottom line. I was told by an industry representative that at current prices, there is no need to to increase densities to 12 to 16 wells to increase densities to 12 to 16 wells in certain areas, including the SNWA. Higher gas prices justify the additional wells, and “more straws in the pot” wells per section of land throughout much of the region between Medicine plans are Hat and Brooks. EnCana’s drilling more wells into existing gas shallow gas well pools. Presently, density is approximately four to eight C. Wallis . The plan is The plan . 2 Even though EnCana has proposed proposed has EnCana though Even In Alberta, development usually development usually Alberta, In is in place for the SNWA, industry will industry the SNWA, place for is in additional drilling in the SNWA, additional drilling in the SNWA, this should not be seen as a special This is situation for the corporation. only a small part of the extensive infill drilling program it has planned for the southeastern quarter of the province. Of course, the corporation would like to proceed with it because it already has infrastructure in place and can readily in passing through, develop SNWA, integrity and protection. It points to limit need not to further the urgent Alberta, but protection of habitat in instead to take immediate steps to make apply to the entire province. SARA SNWA Benefit from EnCana’s Insignificant be back one day to haunt it again. it again. to haunt one day be back for environmental trumps concerns of intensive notion Alberta’s integrity. scrutiny is well environmental Bow proposed by Luscar’s illustrated which entails City project near Brooks, at depths of 12 surface mining of coal km to 42 meters over 130 and prairie habitat to replace the topsoil The coal will after the coal is removed. probably as part of fuel power plants, strategy to increase power Alberta’s has, of course, exports. Such a plan mass destruction everything to do with and nothing of species and habitat environmental whatsoever to do with Northern leopard frog Northern leopard Some argue that future shortages that future shortages Some argue The extent of the problem will be of the problem will The extent greatest in Alberta, where, encouraged encouraged Alberta, where, greatest in will, once again, be asked to pay the price for our current economic waste, and unless better protective legislation and drastic future high-cost adjustments can be prevented by new sources of such as coal-bed methane. supply, the only highlight Such arguments importance of keeping protected areas as robust as possible. like the SNWA future unfolds, intensive Alberta’s As drilling, and associated disturbances, in the “shallow gas treadmill” and “carpet bombing,” as it is called in the eastern slopes of the Rockies, will look mild compared to the ravaging of land and destruction rationalized by the need for In short, the environment more supply. Paying the Price for Waste Paying the Price for and appeased by natural gas rebates, by natural gas and appeased and businesses the majority of citizens gas-dependent are continuing to build is not energy infrastructure that infill efficient. In short, although generally and in drilling, as proposed and is favoured by industry the SNWA, strategy, energy serves U.S. national social cost on it imposes a very high security of Canada by threatening future supply. prices than what is realized in the U.S. in the is realized than what prices in to remain more gas permit will not a nasty free trade with Canada (i.e., twist). Although corporations are In addition to the suggested In addition to the suggested Accordingly, the combination of Accordingly, Since NAFTA, exports have Since NAFTA, intent on extracting gas faster, many intent on extracting gas faster, willingness of Canadians to pay higher market failure and increasing exports, virtually guarantee under NAFTA, that Canada will be short of supply as production declines over the even the longer term. Under NAFTA, virtually the highest proportion of gas it has ever exported. the level set over the preceding 36 months and therefore becomes legally committed to continue exporting Canada is prohibited from reducing the proportion of gas exported below increase that will prevent Canadians from reducing exports to serve domestic needs when future shortages NAFTA, This is because under arise. hectic pace of drilling and additional The proportion of production wells. exported has increased over the 1990s from 33 per cent to 55 per cent, an increased dramatically while overall production has dropped, despite the Alberta, a far cry from the 25-year vital Alberta, a far cry from the 25-year vital supply safeguard in place prior to the in 1994. implementation of NAFTA there are good reasons to be concerned. there are good reasons to be concerned. In 2003, only about 8.9 years of natural gas production remained in the fall in proven reserves. Research conducted by the Parkland Institute of and the Demise Trade (Energy, shows 2005) Alberta, in Petrochemicals Canadians are already concerned about Canadians are already concerned about NAFTA Worsens the Problem the Problem Worsens NAFTA reserve requirements similar to the 25- reserve requirements year supply safeguard in place before NAFTA. short-term export orders and allow short-term export orders to long- exports primarily pursuant could be a useful This term licenses. licenses have flexible tool, as long-term government can also play a major role government can also Board Energy by having the National exports under reverse the trend of addressed. addressed. or minimize interventions to eliminate the federal the market failure identified, and export, the impact of this on the the impact of this and export, current of Canada’s effectiveness to be to Kyoto has yet commitment to society’s interests. Although the the Although interests. to society’s worsened is likely problem emissions rate of gas extraction by the high

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W W 16 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 17 Overall, I note that natural gas By refusing additional drilling lawyer Henry Binder is a retired in the For those only interested is still used indirectly, through power is still used indirectly, tower lights generation, to keep office we are not only in the SNWA, from adding preventing the SNWA Hat. He is a member of Grasslands Naturalists. burning 24 hours a day in cities across burning 24 hours a day in cities across for other purposes America and North most of us consider wasteful. In economic terms, waste includes all be such low-value uses that wouldn’t engaged in today if the price of gas reflected its full social cost. Even if some gas were ultimately left in the it or elsewhere, ground in the SNWA can fairly be viewed as gas that would otherwise have contributed to economic waste. to an economically wasteful process, but we are also giving a priceless asset, comprising scarce biodiversity, The the strong protection it deserves. choice should be easy. and rancher who lives in Medicine exceptional circumstances and after and after circumstances exceptional proposal EnCana’s scrutiny. careful the amendments to suggests that to for, Act are called Wildlife National and/or prohibition require dismantling an area development when of further If such for protection. is designated in place when the provisions had been designated in 2003, we was SNWA have to deal with this threat wouldn’t today. be Easy The Choice Should is bottom line, my recommendation reduce the pace of that we maintain or both because production in the SNWA, to do so it is economically efficient and to guarantee protection of a special area. Over the immediate term, at simply least, less gas from the SNWA means more gas from somewhere else, where the environmental damage will certainly be less.

C. Wallis Ord’s kangaroo rat kangaroo Ord’s Furthermore, I recommend Having been a rancher for many Not steering by the venal chart Not steering by the That tricked the mass for private gain part. rise to play a greater We — Frank Scott least any fracing or other disturbances should only be permitted under are experienced opportunists. investigating decommissioning of in existing installations in the SNWA At an environmentally sound manner. of preventing invasion of non-native plants, or weeds, such as downy brome and others. Such threats may appear small, but invasion can quickly change the essential character of a highly valued, biological benchmark, which must be kept as robust as possible. Climate change makes robustness even more critical, as it will allow desirable species to adapt and spread as conditions change, conditions under which endemic plant life cannot compete with invasive species, which years, I am well aware of the serious limitations of attempts to mitigate. Although this subject requires separate comprehensive treatment, I feel it necessary to mention the difficulty in the region and as an area from and as an area in the region has an opportunity which wildlife are when the well-heads to expand must keep in We decommissioned. region will be mind that the entire development, subjected to intensive of the base including the remainder portion, – especially the northwest Area,” Access described as the “Oil many as 60 wells per where I believe as section will be permitted. protection. Instead of mitigation, of mitigation, Instead protection. should principle the precautionary retained and the SNWA be followed for biodiversity as a benchmark It will no doubt be claimed that The social cost of drilling in The SNWA has long been The SNWA There won’t even be a reduction There won’t If EnCana doesn’t drill in the If EnCana doesn’t effective mitigation, taking into account into taking mitigation, effective the SNWA – which will be borne by – which will be borne the SNWA in the context of the ongoing habitat absolute Alberta, be afforded loss in recognized as a special place because of its rich abundance of wildlife not especially must, it and elsewhere, found years and still more species are becoming endangered, primarily because of loss of habitat. and compromising everywhere for cumulative impacts, will reduce disturbances to an acceptable level, should not but the mitigation argument have been mitigating We carry the day. what is priceless. all Canadians, not Encana – will be exceedingly high. It is not possible to put a number on this cost, but for many Canadians, losing the ecological represents losing integrity of the SNWA Mitigation Not the Answer Mitigation Not the royalty rates. has no idea what to do with its petro- shortfall Any miniscule dollars anyway. by a long could be more than offset overdue general increase in energy foregone. in royalties, and even if there were, it be a problem, as the province wouldn’t it, over a longer time frame but without it, over a longer time frame but without further investment. In short, very little, will be profit and private benefit if any, has acquired in the U.S. or elsewhere. has acquired in the U.S. or elsewhere. Furthermore, its existing wells in most of will recover the gas, or SNWA develop some additional properties it develop some additional properties it whether this proposal goes ahead or whether this proposal it might only not. For the corporation, sooner up a little mean that it finishes Alberta and moves on to in this part of SNWA, the fully employed drilling the fully employed drilling SNWA, be employed on rigs it engages will and perhaps just its other properties, the market will Also, as profitably. as much gas and probably have just by not be affected the price of gas will represents only a fraction of the base. only a fraction of represents the entire Canadian Forces Base at Canadian Forces Base the entire which for the SNWA, Suffield, except so to speak. However, we should keep should keep we speak. However, so to be permitted will that EnCana in mind over a not only to drill extensively province, but on portion of the large R. Douglas

UNT H The government also refuses to The government said it would The government said the multi-stakeholder Grizzly Bear following a 2002 Team Recovery Alberta recommendation by the Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) to list the grizzly as a “threatened” species (when the provincial population was believed team The to be around 1,000 bears). quickly assessed exactly what was grizzlies, and Alberta’s known about Recovering the Grizzly Recovery Plan release the draft Grizzly Bear Recovery The government established Plan. thought, the government would thought, the government the public eye have had that out in says Henderson. immediately,” data at the release the 2005 mortality It is strongly end of January 2006. than 40 grizzly suspected that more bears were killed by humans in 2005 (including 10 killed in the spring hunt). If this is true, it would be the highest number of grizzlies killed in a single year in the last 10 years. RIZZLY G OVER

TSELF I HOOTING “There’s no doubt that if this had “There’s Uncertainty over Alberta’s Alberta’s Uncertainty over S readily accessible in the past. shown more bears than previously hunt and not listing the grizzly as these studies promise Yet “threatened.” to tell us more about the status of grizzlies than ever before. Dr. Alberta’s of the Grizzly Bear Henderson Tracey Alliance and the Jasper Environmental via Association tried unsuccessfully, the provincial Freedom of Information Act, to access these data, as well as the total grizzly bear mortality numbers for have always been which the past year, of publicly funded genetic studies of of publicly funded grizzly populations between Highways 1 and 16 carried a provincial tax-dollar price tag of $750,000. grizzly population has been cited as a justification for continuing the grizzly scientists over the past two grizzly scientists over population studies years. DNA-based scientifically are currently the most estimating accurate method for bears distributed population size for worth years’ Two areas. over large OVERNMENT By Nigel Douglas, AWA Conservation Specialist Conservation AWA Douglas, By Nigel G The most important study that is Conservation groups are The information was also Recent incidents surrounding Recent incidents surrounding

have been developed by government consider sensitive studies. not being released is the DNA-based grizzly bear population estimates Alberta, which for parts of northern communication department has also been known to consider itself a peer review committee for what they An SRD spokesman recently told reporter David Gray that CTV the release the government won’t Albertans information because most understand them” simply “won’t until they are put into context. SRD’s on grizzly population numbers that suggest the hunt is not sustainable. What’s the Big Secret? What’s concerned that the government will allow the hunt to proceed again this ample information despite having year, provincial Grizzly Bear Recovery Team. was removed as Provincial Grizzly Bear Specialist at the end of January, even though he remains chair of the grizzly hunt decision was supposed Then suddenly to have been made. government biologist Gord Stenhouse of Sustainable Resource Development of Sustainable Resource Development with (SRD), which is charged fish and wildlife, Alberta’s managing until the end of January when the been withheld from the public. withheld from David Coutts, Minister including revealing population studies, including revealing population studies, and the 2004 2005 mortality figures, draft Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan, have considerable amount of information, information and the removal of information and the grizzly bear specialist Alberta’s questions about have raised serious ability to manage the government’s A grizzly bear population. Alberta’s the withholding of critical grizzly the withholding of

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editorial

Calgary Herald Recovery Plan, completed by the multi-stakeholder Team provincial Recovery in December 2004. Alberta Grizzly Bear Allocation, Assessment of completed in early 2005. for 2004 and 2005, partly funded by $750,000 of taxpayer money. figures for grizzly bears in 2005. Stopping the hunt will not on its Argument over the hunt gets a over the hunt gets Argument declined to release: • population studies DNA • Report on The amended List of documents the Alberta government has • mortality Human-caused • Alberta Grizzly Bear The own save Alberta’s grizzlies, but it Alberta’s own save and immediate is the most effective (Feb. 3/06), “is some measure of confidence that the provincial government is considering fully and objectively the information provided by its experts when determining whether to allow the grizzly hunt.” If in with how the science does not fit grizzlies are managed, maybe it is time to manipulate that management, rather than manipulating the science and the scientists. government is also being fed a lot of fed a lot also being is government Albertans from information anecdotal grizzlies they now see more who claim on our before. But decisions than ever the best to be made with wildlife need science. available can divert attention lot of attention but problem, from the really pressing of grizzly bear which is the destruction hunts grizzlies habitat. Jason Bender opposed to in B.C. but is still strongly Alberta. “Hunters the grizzly hunt in ability to hunt,” are taking away their “If you’re a true hunter, says Bender. It should first. you’re a conservationist interest to ensure that be in everybody’s for our kids.” grizzlies are still around strategy we have available to decrease the unsustainable number of bears “What is needed killed every year. says a now,” , Jan Calgary Calgary Herald Will having more accurate having more accurate Will There still appears to be Of even more concern is the Of even more concern Yet Coutts signed off on the signed off Coutts Yet numbers influence the government question of who exactly is in charge of is in charge question of who exactly grizzly Alberta’s the decisions affecting As of February 2006, Coutts bears. of government, said that if the only in the Alberta were grizzly bears left in Chinchaga, it would still want to have The a grizzly hunt in the Chinchaga. and recommendations forwarded to office over the past four the Minister’s years.” Not to Hunt Hunt or To to halt the spring hunt? In a recent Ray Mackowecki, AWA, meeting with Fish and Alberta then-president of the Association, which bills itself Game as the “premier conservation group in Alberta” and claims to have the ear about our wildlife secret. considerable opposition within to government ranks to efforts grizzlies. Jim Alberta’s recover Wildlife Pissot of Defenders of Canada points to the intransigence of some wildlife managers. “Their professional reputation is predicated, in part, on having done a ‘good job’ grizzlies,” he Alberta’s conserving says. “Of course, this position has been challenged by various studies this or any of the other grizzly issues by this or any of the other the end of January 2006. 2005 grizzly hunt, even though his department had in its possession the draft Recovery Plan – which recommended suspending the hunt genetic population – and the first year’s studies. SRD is not doing the Minister any favours by making a circus of the grizzly issue. But more importantly, the government is doing the public a disservice by keeping information get into trouble” ( get into trouble” 12/06). Charge? in Who’s Recovery Plan had still not seen the submitted to his even though it was 2004 ( department in December According to his Herald, Feb. 3/06). been briefed on aides, he had still not between a rock and a hard place. His place. and a hard a rock between the entire initiated which comments, “No particularly prophetic: farce, were going to I do, I know I’m matter what , Jan. 16/06). Edmonton Sun Stenhouse was clearly caught When he expressed these concerns The removal of Stenhouse as the The terms of reference for the The terms of reference The Recovery Team itself has Team The Recovery “We worked very long and hard “We publicly, he was quickly informed publicly, this was how Stenhouse was listed in Internet telephone the government’s retracted. later was denial this directory, twist, when this news became public, an SRD spokesman initially denied that Stenhouse had been Provincial Grizzly Bear Specialist in the first out that When it was pointed place. that he was no longer Provincial Grizzly Bear Specialist. In a bizarre since the recovery plan was submitted more than a year ago. allowed to see population and mortality data and why nothing had been heard Provincial Grizzly Bear Biologist in As January 2006 came as a surprise. Stenhouse Team, chair of the Recovery had been under pressure from the team to find out why they had not been “I expected we’d have that information “I expected we’d have that information really suspicious now.” We’re last year. Staniland ( an integral part of the information member Team said Recovery flow,” biologist Rob Energy Talisman and moved forward.” not even been provided with the recent population or mortality figures. always anticipated we were “We for the province,” says Mark Boyce, biologist and Alberta a University of “So we Team. member of the Recovery are certainly frustrated that that hasn’t date population information). to come up with recommendations Endangered Species Conservation Endangered Species Committee for review (minus up-to- plan has still not been released, and the plan has still not been apparently been “public review” has an internal review interpreted to mean and referral back to the by SRD staff recovery team stated that the recovery recovery team stated to the Minister plan “will be provided to release for public three months prior the months later, Thirteen review.” grizzly bears from excessive industrial from excessive grizzly bears the hunt. development, and suspending better managing human access to human access better managing areas for protecting key grizzly habitat, their best estimate of the population population of the best estimate their 700 individuals.” than was “less for made recommendations They also including the grizzly bear, recovering Blue

(2002), OCKIES R Heisler also expressed concerns Apart from potential degradation According to Maude Barlow ANADIAN about the development’s impact impact about the development’s The Crowsnest upon bird habitat. of the river system’s water quality, water quality, of the river system’s whose Adele Heisler, residents such as and Tony Clarke, co-authors of Tony and Primary treatment of greywater, of greywater, Primary treatment only reduces solids. however, complex at any given time. Conservation Society has compiled a list of almost 300 species of birds, including hummingbirds and waterfowl, that frequent the greater Crowsnest Pass. Crowsnest Lake is home to common loons, bald eagles, fecal coliform bacteria, the best known fecal coliform bacteria, the best known variety of which is the deadly E-coli, it does not remove the toxic chemicals They contained in wastewater” (32). reported a July 2001 study by Quebec’s Environment Ministry that found that lakes water flushed into the province’s and rivers is still acutely toxic even after highly sophisticated treatment, and a 2001 Sierra Club study found that typical municipal water contains 200 synthetic chemicals, including PCBs, which make water dangerous to drink. residence is closest to the development site, has serious concerns about garbage known in general. Sentinel is fittingly The in these parts as “hurricane flats.” wind often blows with such velocity that unless litter is disposed of properly, Heisler fears that it will end up in “How can you supervise a the river. thousand people?” she asks, referring to the projected population of the resort Secondary treatment, or disinfection, Secondary treatment, pollutants or is required to eliminate from the pathogenic micro-organisms some micro- remaining liquid and such as cryptosporidium, organisms, disinfection. may be resistant to Gold: The Battle against Corporate Water Theft of the World’s “[E]ven treated wastewater can be While treatment will remove lethal. C THE

OF

EM G AST : L : AKE At a town hall meeting held Aside from the benefit of Aside from the benefit A recently updated A The Oldman River, a tributary The Oldman River, L decreased municipal treatment greywater recycling wastewater flow, increases the freshwater supply in regions where irrigation is practiced. in Blairmore on October 4, 2005, corporate officers of Bridgegate Development, when asked about plans advised for disposal of wastewater, that the resort intends to recycle its as Greywater can be defined greywater. for water that is except any used water, flushed down toilets. Constituting 50 to 80 per cent of residential wastewater, sink, greywater includes dish, shower, and laundry water. and agricultural wastes downstream become less diluted, resulting in fish kills.“ Despite regulation of flows by dams and reservoirs, floods and residents the affect to continue droughts and businesses of the watershed, as key A well as its natural communities. concern is the potential for changes in the frequency or severity of extreme hydrological changes in the future as a result of climate change. Rivers. It is a heavily managed river system with numerous reservoirs in which water is stored during spring snowmelt, allowing for controlled flow during the summer and fall seasons for crop irrigation. characterization report on the Oldman conducted by the University of River, Guelph, found that “[d]ue to heavy quality water reliance on surface water, is a prominent concern in the basin.” the in decreased stream flows With summer months, municipal effluents headwaters, Crowsnest Lake, form part headwaters, Crowsnest basin. of the Oldman River River that of the South Saskatchewan the Bow River east of with merges cent of its total derives 40 per Taber, and Crowsnest flow from the Castle River, which together with its River, ROWSNEST By Barbara Janusz By Barbara C Within the narrow, windswept the narrow, Within The ramifications of such a The ramifications Bridgegate’s proposed Bridgegate’s The first bylaw adopted the area treated wastewater into the Crowsnest municipality derives its water from an widely regarded as immense aquifer, having the highest refreshment rate in The existing water Canada. Western discharges treatment plant, however, development are enormous, not only for residents of the Pass, but also for The all users of water downstream. east from the resort to Coleman and Blairmore. the existing CPR line, which skirts the north shore, to transport tourists lake’s aquatic centre, golf course, and marina. Expecting the resort village to eventually attract 150,000 tourists the developers hope to utilize annually, subsequent stages of development that include a hotel, shopping and equestrian complexes, an ice arena, phase entails a single tower with up to 50 fractional share condo units, the sale of which are earmarked to finance development can best be described as development can best be described as ostentatiously ambitious. Consisting of seven phases, the first development sewer lines to Sentinel, Bridgegate has sewer lines to Sentinel, Bridgegate has committed $1 million toward expansion of the said infrastructure. million resort complex in Sentinel. Environment’s Alberta upon Contingent second approval of the municipality’s motion to extend municipal water and structure plan proposed by Bridgegate structure plan proposed by Bridgegate Development Ltd. to develop an $875 separate development bylaws passed by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Council on October 25, 2005. Crowsnest Lake remains a deserted, Crowsnest Lake remains All that, however, uninhabited place. is poised to change as a result of two Save for a dozen residences that are Save for a dozen residences and that located east of its shoreline of Sentinel, make up the tiny settlement Crowsnest Pass lies the deep, blue, Crowsnest Pass lies Crowsnest Lake. freshwater jewel of

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W W 20 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 21 In the process of compiling The municipality has zoned the David McGee, district approvals Along the lakeshore, the CPR Along the lakeshore, has jurisdiction to ensure proper interconnection of greywater conduits plumbing system. to the resort’s Epilogue data and opinions on the foregoing potential repercussions stemming from I was resort proposal, Bridgegate’s 27-acre site of the Bridgegate resort any Accordingly, as direct control. development must be approved by town council, and not simply by a or committee. development officer According to Gordon Lundy, for the chief administrative officer are currently engineers municipality, designing plans for the extension of water and sewer lines to Sentinel. Approval by the water and sewage division of municipal approvals for Alberta Environment is required before expansion of the water treatment An environmental facility can occur. impact assessment is discretionary in this instance. manager for the department, advises that it is premature to comment on how discretion will be exercised before submission of the municipal plans. McGee also advised that he has not yet encountered a greywater recycling scheme on the scale proposed by Alberta Labour Bridgegate and that sheep are killed through roadkill roadkill through are killed sheep of hunting. a result than as per year carry tourists by plans to Bridgegate’s heart of the Pass addresses rail to the although to some degree, this concern also stem from mammal fatalities large traffic. existing CPR forth through line cuts back and As the capacity rock outcroppings. so too of freight trains increases, derailments, a does the potential for the Bergman, Vic serious concern for Angler, proprietor of the Crowsnest fly outfitting which specializes in The Crowsnest River fishermen. for its trout is world renowned Although most anglers are fishery. more interested in stream fishing and Crowsnest Lake itself does not attract too many anglers, increased recreational use of the lake, particularly by motorboats, poses the risk of polluting the fishery.

E. Steinke He describes the greater greater the He describes Increased vehicular traffic on Increased vehicular traffic Highway 3, however, will exacerbate Highway 3, however, the already growing problem of the wildlife roadkill. Currently, mortality rate averages 200 large More bighorn mammals annually. that promotes conservation. low elevation and proximity to and proximity low elevation seed stock, southeastern B.C. forest the Bridgegate McIntyre foresees respect and development fostering for the region’s increased appreciation past, intense mining uniqueness. In the have disturbed for coal and logging for tourism the land. Development of what is being purposes on the scale is, in his proposed by Bridgegate to instill an ethic opinion, necessary Crowsnest Pass as “ecologically as “ecologically Pass Crowsnest and diverse” and “Alberta’s sensitive diverse, most threatened richest, most such Attributing forest community.” to the Crowsnest Pass’s diversity A view at the location of the proposed resort. proposed the of location the at view A David McIntyre, a forestry David McIntyre, consultant with Alberta Sustainable Alberta with consultant a colonization that atypically extends eastward across the continental divide. species not known to occur elsewhere in the province – western white pine and ponderosa pine – along with forms part of which western red cedar, cultural and natural treasures. McIntyre cultural and natural two tree in the area has also identified 1,450 years ago – he sees the proposed 1,450 years ago – he force in the development as a positive need to safeguard its community’s discovered, on the shores of Crowsnest discovered, on the Alberta trees in Lake, one of the oldest dating from – a limber pine, possibly Resource Development, who like Development, who Resource in the Pass for the Heisler has resided optimistic about past 20 years, is more proposal. Having recently Bridgegate’s various species of grebes. various species white-tailed ptarmigan, American American ptarmigan, white-tailed as such waterfowl and migrating pipits, ruddy ducks, and plovers, mergansers,

Speers finally met Russell at his Barbara Janusz is a lawyer Barbara Janusz

being just an old mountain man not afraid to express my thoughts. People like you who take the trouble to write always make me feel good.” Waterton home in 2002 during a trip to National Park. It turned out Russell knew a distant relative of Speers, Barb-wire Johnnie Speers, who worked After Russell’s Ranch. Waldron at a death in June 2005, Speers published about memories and poems of pamphlet him. “I wish to go on record as being Park Wildland a strong supporter of a said Speers. Andy Russell,” named for know how come you were so moved, know how come you were so moved, Speers, “I like the poetry even if I don’t Speers, “I like the poetry even if I don’t and freelance writer who has writer and freelance to the Crowsnest relocated recently at Pass and can be reached [email protected]. Water The University of Guelph Report can be Management Group found at http://www.uoguelph.ca/ and that the future development of the development the future and that with them will provide Pass Crowsnest those options. gwmg/wcp_home/Pages/O_home.htm. “I’d go ‘round the globe for the pleasure Of just being out here.” “Man is taking from the wilderness Leaving nothing behind.” He sees it as a fragile thing That yields such peace of mind. He grew up in the Alberta foothills He grew up in the Nigh seventy years ago Where the wind can soothe one so. time” good for the soul in ‘green-up’ “It’s He spoke of the spring of the year; With a love for the mountain wilderness a love for the mountain With USSELL — From “Andy Russell” by J. Alvin Speers, 1986 — From “Andy Russell” by J. R NDY A OF In a pamphlet she prepared In my opinion, the overriding In my opinion, the Author and poet J. Alvin Speers Alvin Author and poet J. Eighty-one-year-old Bob Wray Wray Bob Eighty-one-year-old

Crowsnest Pass has become largely a largely has become Pass Crowsnest Wilderness named in his honour. Wilderness for Alberta’s centennial, Boettcher Alberta’s for first wrote poems about Andy Russell first wrote poems about recalls fishing and camping with his recalls fishing World friends in the summers before Andy II along Drywood Creek on War place. father’s Russell’s abandoned the public good.” after seeing a television documentary about him in 1986. Russell wrote to wrote, “Our present-day economy About our will tell stories about us. consideration for others, or lack of it. Whether air and land. About water, great wealth was shared or amassed Who plundered and who by few. Nations reported that, as of July 2005, that, as of Nations reported history time in the world’s for the first of the world’s more than 50 per cent urban centres rather population lives in than in rural communities. is that their concern for Pass residents where they want progeny have a choice next generation to live and raise the retirement community that naturally naturally that community retirement attendant twenty-first-century harbours over its future sustainability anxieties The United community. as a rural EMORIES M Andy Russell Andy HARE S LBERTANS Boettcher is one of several Monica Boettcher of Calgary says With one out of five residences one out of five With A Albertans who have sent letters to AWA AWA Albertans who have sent letters to Andy Russell had a vital influence in Andy Russell had a vital influence They learned of Russell her family. be meaningful for him, wilderness, Albertans, and generations to come to have a provincial park in the Castle his name. She calls Russell “a pioneer his name. She calls Russell “a pioneer of conservation” and says it would describing their memories of Russell Park in Wildland and their support for a Natural History Museum in Breman, introduced my family to the Germany, Russell.” Andy book/works/life of from a cousin in Germany in the cousin, who was a 1960s. “My father’s taxidermist, watercolourist, naturalist, and diorama designer at the Overseas currently owned by non-residents, the currently owned by a pessimistic wait-and-see attitude a pessimistic wait-and-see development toward the current proposal. development of a resort complex on of a resort complex development many Pass the lake. Consequently, speaking, harbour residents, generally wooed Pass residents into approving residents into approving wooed Pass their municipal council) (through frequently asked by Pass residents residents by Pass asked frequently development like the it looked whether that this is ahead. I’d learned would go has time that a developer not the first

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W W 22 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 23 Reports and letters mentioned This is the single most important Game farm diseases obviously Game farm diseases Game farming in Alberta is Game farming in more than just CWD; it will determine the fate of our greatest environmental success – public wildlife. in this article and an associated news site can be found on our Web release Farming under Issues/Wildlife/Game government has admitted it is not Governments are a viable industry. subsidizing a proven threat to public wildlife and to their economies, traditional agriculture, and public health. Game farmers have realized that the venture will never be economically viable. Entire herds have been destroyed, or in some cases, simply turned loose. wildlife issue of our time, with implications of enormous scope. How Canada resolves this crisis will affect farms raising civet cats for “delicacy” civet cats for “delicacy” farms raising markets. to humans. pose potential threats experiments Both in-vitro and in-vivo unlikely, indicate that, while to people may transmission of CWD happens and if the be possible. If that people as it does disease manifests in we could face a pandemic of an in deer, always-fatal undetectable, untreatable, periods of ten disease with incubation years or more and with transmission potentially as simple as kissing. CWD is most likely transmitted in bodily fluids such as urine, feces, and saliva. surviving only because of public Alberta subsidies, even though the NQUIRY I UBLIC Game farm in central Alberta central in farm Game P FOR

EMAND D History documents that Known costs of this disastrous Parliament has both jurisdiction Parliament has both TO

and responsibility for this industry, for this industry, and responsibility epidemic in less than ten years. In Asian game from 2002, SARS emerged by Environment Canada, showed that activity based on wildlife contributed in $12.1 billion to the Canadian GDP to the $12.3 billion equivalent that year, contributed by all of agriculture. domestication has been responsible for fostering, incubating, and spreading perhaps the majority of our most serious pandemics, including small pox massive tuberculosis A and influenza. in epidemic on game farms emerged less than five years, and the CWD into the hundreds of millions. Of is immeasurable cost, however, that CWD is now out of control, directly threatening wildlife and our wildlife economies. By any rational standard, our highest priority must be 1996 study, A eliminating the cause. to Canadians The Importance of Nature assessment, none has ever been assessment, none has undertaken. Provincial governments have not only refused, but also blocked legitimate assessment. Premier Klein reneged on his written commitment to legitimate assessment. scheme to privatize wildlife stretch and commercialization of wildlife of wildlife and commercialization to report a final in Canada, produce six months with a Parliament within be chaired by an plan and budget, and with expert independent commissioner qualifications. medical and wildlife commitment and despite a written Chrétien for from Prime Minister and public comprehensive review Bray S. ESPOND ONTROL R Canada’s Canada’s C OF Inquiries Act. Inquiries

UT EADERS L O (2005) fails to even S EDERAL No response was received from Former federal Environment Jack Layton of the New Canada is facing the greatest Only two federal leaders Only two A public inquiry must undertake A CWD I CWD F the Conservative party, and phone the Conservative party, wildlife crisis of our time. Among the wildlife crisis of our time. responded to an urgent letter by responded to an urgent and conservation organizations complete and comprehensive assessments of the privatization calls were not returned – clearly not a promising sign for the future. not interested in dealing with the cause of the problem. clear indication that the Liberal party is Minister Stephane Dion passed the Agriculture, buck to the Department of which is responsible for the crisis in response the first place. Paul Martin’s a supported the national CWD strategy, species be approached with the utmost caution.” are in complete support of governments are in complete support of governments having a responsibility to protect the public interest and to ensure that proposals to domesticate wild Democratic party gave his support for Democratic party gave his support for saying, “New Democrats an inquiry, National Chronic Wasting Disease Wasting National Chronic Strategy Control acknowledge this underlying cause. CWD is “spillover from infected game farms,” and “there are no known barriers to stop the disease.” many symptoms of this crisis, CWD outside has been repeatedly confirmed Alberta and game farm fences in The Expert Scientific Saskatchewan. Disease Wasting Panel on Chronic confirmed that the source of Canada’s products pending the completion of a products pending the completion of a Public Inquiry under the asked federal leaders to commit to asked federal leaders on the an immediate moratorium movement of game farm animals and scientists asking for a public inquiry scientists asking for of wildlife, on the commercialization chronic wasting which has led to a Alliance The disease (CWD) epidemic. Suzuki the David Wildlife, for Public Geist, one Val Foundation, and Dr. top wildlife scientists, of Canada’s

But which one of us has today Outsiders do and will look at Yes, we display ignorance; it is Yes, excrement and industrial effluent. It is excrement and industrial effluent. given thanks for that River? Who given thanks for that River? that these people did not understand their relationship to the River? Can you imagine that they never expressed gratitude? Maybe that was why they could abuse their water supplies. are trapped We built into our paradigm. within our box. Our BMPs have to There we box. come from a different will find the solutions that will elude us used to generate the electrical power for our stoves, refrigerators, and air The gifts of the River are conditioning. more than I can tell you. among us has ever kneeled down on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River in humility and gratitude? Have to you ever taken the time to reflect, acknowledge what the River is to us? There is no life without the gift of water. our society in amazement: how is it South Saskatchewan River. Saskatchewan South Step back and look at us as eyes Running through our land we have There are many societies that

this River. Use the South Saskatchewan this River. it delivers water for example – River, Medicine to the residents of Calgary, have diversion We Hat, and Saskatoon. schemes to take the water to many, attitude to water. from our taps; we use it to wash our clothes, to water our gardens and our livestock, to grow our crops, and as a dumping ground for processed human the gift so they too may enjoy the abundance you enjoy. from the future will see us. many communities – some, such as Regina and Humboldt, a long way from water drink the River’s We the River. have understood their dependence. The things upon which the society is dependent are sacred. It is not superstition; it is good common sense. cherish the things upon which your You grandchildren will Your life depends. protect You be as dependent as you. H. Unger H. ? S U TO

question: IVER a priori R A

S I practices that should be analyzed further which were not among those presented at the symposium?” at the among those presented not be analyzed further which were practices that should Sandra Finley, a well-known Saskatchewan activist, attended a water symposium by the International Institute for the International symposium by attended a water Saskatchewan activist, a well-known Sandra Finley, HAT An illustrative example of During the symposium, there Intellectual rigour and creativity is I understand that “best I understand that “best By Sandra Finley By Sandra W In my view, through our paradigm In my view, In relation to water, we have In relation to water, Sustainable Development (IISD) in Winnipeg in late September 2005. This is her response to the question “Are there best there question “Are to the is her response 2005. This in late September in Winnipeg Development (IISD) Sustainable was brief reference to a “different” was brief reference to a “different” we display gross ignorance in our possible to solve problems if the wrong attitude is brought to bear – indeed the attitude can determine that the problem is not solvable.) us with “right attitudes,” which will with then equip us to deal effectively the situation before us? (It is not even “their” worldview and “our” Which worldview makes worldview. provides Which one the most sense? to a situation is a determinant of the outcome. There you can see that the worldview The attitude we bring is an attitude. paradigms, and how you must move are you if another to paradigm one from problem-solving to achieve effective comes from the particular in a society, worldview of women in a society. within that box, if we are to progress. the straitjacket imposed by inferior the best box, and then for the BMPs tacitly accepted that we will operate within our own under our own view, box or paradigm. But it is a mistake not to first ensure that our “box” is the for should search first We “best box.” same thinking that created them.) worldview held by “them.” It was to the water problems we face? (I am to the water problems we face? (I am statement that reminded of Einstein’s you cannot solve problems with the served by asking the is our worldview the best worldview in which to construct our responses constitutes a way of viewing reality for constitutes a way of shares them.) the community that “box” or paradigm, whatever that might “box” or paradigm, paradigm is a set of assumptions, be. (A practices that concepts, values, and management practices” (BMPs) management practices” to the current inevitably restrict ideas

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W W 24 WILDERNESS WATCH WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 25

R. Thomas OMPLEX C leases (orange) and its additional its and (orange) leases ETLAND township of leases (yellow) overlapping (yellow) leases of township the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex. Wetland Lake McClelland the Map showing Synenco’s Northern Lights Lights Northern Synenco’s showing Map W should not be dismissed. It is obviously It is obviously dismissed. not be should to it leads because to ours superior we are of that upon which protection It is for survival. totally dependent it we will not Without sense. common have sustainability. currently under development. Half currently under development. wetland complex, of the McClelland to oil sand mining previously off-limits in a publicly developed land use plan, was quickly made available to mining when a company lobbied for it. AKE L be protected as ecological reserves. as ecological reserves. be protected Above is the correct photo of McClelland Lake fen. On the photo of McClelland Above is the correct right is the western end slated for mining. Both fens should right is the western end slated for mining. LELLAND C C M OF

AWA is concerned that AWA Mr. Boutilier wrote that Alberta Boutilier wrote that Mr. “Their” different worldview “Their” different EST R government actions, such as those in the McClelland Lake fen case, will undermine the wetland policy beauty and integrity of the wetland wants to know how AWA complex. this is possible when half of it is being destroyed for oil sands mining and Although the other half is threatened. the Synenco leases are not in the oil sands development zone as currently outlined in the Mineable Oil Sands Strategy (MOSS), the boundaries can asked We be changed at any time. the Minister if he intended on letting companies use water from McClelland Lake for oil sands mining. Environment wants to preserve the more thoughtful correspondence with more thoughtful correspondence with Environment Minister Guy Boutilier, since he is responsible for wetlands. Development, AWA has found Minister has found Minister AWA Development, an unengaged and David Coutts to be Instead superficial correspondent. active and has been engaged in AWA will begin to be able to make real and to be able to make will begin lasting progress. that it is sacred, when we somehow somehow when we is sacred, that it reverence, to express the ability learn when know it is part of us, when we we right attitude, then we have the UT O ELLING S In our last issue we identified the photo below as In our last issue we identified fen in the complex on the southeast side of the lake. fen in the complex on the southeast side OVERNMENT

Although the area is the Ian Urquhart, an associate The Alberta government has not The In the same way as we are shifting are shifting as we same way In the

McClelland Lake fen; however, this is the second patterned this is the second McClelland Lake fen; however, G By Shirley Bray Thomas R. responsibility of Sustainable Resource wetland complex as a provincial park, with the two patterned fens protected as ecological reserves. sands issues, met with representatives of Synenco. He informed them of proposal to protect the entire AWA’s complex. professor of political science at the Alberta working on oil University of The company has also bought the leases in a township just west of this project which overlaps the wetland Lights oil sands project northeast of the wetland complex and about 100 kilometers north of Fort McMurray. managing partner for the Northern Inc. in the eastern half, including part Inc. in the eastern half, including part of McClelland Lake. Synenco is the only committed the western half of the only committed the Wetland Lake world-class McClelland Complex to oil sands mining; it has now sold leases to Synenco Energy

and is disruptive in the short term, it is in the short and is disruptive a shift necessary to begin possible and know When we to water. in relation should we persist in a faulty worldview. in a faulty we persist should women in our attitudes to paradigms takes time a process that in society, Robin White/LightHawk Heavy rain during much of June made us wonder if our flight would the Cessna arrived. Reg proved to be a superb pilot and we immediately felt an hour and a half of Within at ease. leaving Springbank, we were looking down on that testament to human greed: the Cheviot open-pit mine and the ugly haul road that serves it. From the damage is the extent of the air, truly appalling, and they’ve only just just the What we could see is started. overhaul was needed,” he said, “I found the bills for parts and labour so large that I had to go back into medicine part-time to pay for it all.” have to be postponed. But then the rains stopped, the clouds parted, and second-hand and retired from medicine second-hand and retired more time so that he could spend a LightHawk flying. In 1995 he met air show who, director at a Helena him up signed after a short test flight, found that on the spot. Reg quickly is one thing but buying a small plane it is quite maintaining and operating “When I decided a major another.

LBERTA A Reg had been a physician in But despite the obvious need, Although it doesn’t have an office Although it doesn’t IN Lighthawk pilot Reg Goodwin and AWA member Marian White at Springbank Airport. Springbank at White Marian member AWA and Goodwin Reg pilot Lighthawk

general practice and took up flying in general practice and took up flying LightHawk hasn’t been able to be very been able LightHawk hasn’t When I first called Alberta. active in program Sama Blackwell, LightHawk’s Helena was willing help us out. the 1980s. Later he bought the Cessna Project, where LightHawk showed policy-makers and media endangered wildlife corridors and habitat. manager for the Rocky Mountain region, she said that our project met their guidelines and that she would see if there was a pilot available in our area. Later she phoned back to say that of one, but Reg Goodwin there wasn’t loggers, and recently the Wildlands Wildlands loggers, and recently the in western Canada, LightHawk has in western Canada, of a number flown missions in support conservation of major west Canadian helping These include initiatives. area from a Tatshenshini protect the to battle the mine, copper open-pit giant from rapacious save Clayoquot Sound and a professional demeanour. demeanour. and a professional ERCH P A

EEKS S AWK H IGHT LightHawk was the brain-child Reg is a volunteer pilot with “I’m Reg Goodwin and I’m your “I’m Reg Goodwin By Robin White By Robin L LightHawk, a non-profit aviation based in Lander, organization U.S., It operates all over the Wyoming. chauffeur for today. Show me on this for today. chauffeur have 1,000 hours or more as pilot-in- command, an excellent safety record, land trusts, researchers, and others. LightHawk is a dynamic organization As well as owning with high standards. a well-maintained plane, pilots must environmental groups, universities, it after a mythical bird whose purpose LightHawk Today, was to shed light. provides into direct advocacy but isn’t A a free service to those who are. operating from field small staff, missions some 400 offices, organizes 140 volunteer matching up its a year, pilots with flight requests from in 1979. He started with one pilot – himself – and one plane, and named of Michael Stewartt, who, outraged by the pollution spewing from a coal-fired power plant, formed the organization scientists, native leaders, media and activists – up in a plane and show them what pollution, habitat destruction, or overdevelopment look like from the air. you want better land-use decisions, take those involved – the politicians, bureaucrats, industry officials, countries including, to a limited degree, countries including, to a limited degree, Canada – especially British Columbia. It was founded on the notion that if though mostly in the Rocky Mountains, though mostly in the Rocky Mountains, the northeast, California, and the other eight in active also is It northwest. Calgary for the sole purpose of taking Calgary for the sole purpose of taking my wife, Marian, and me up to Hinton to photograph the Cheviot mine. immaculate, single-engine Cessna immaculate, single-engine home in Helena, 182. Reg had left his to Montana at daybreak and had flown standing on the tarmac of Springbank standing on the tarmac plane, an Airport alongside Reg’s map exactly where you want to go and map exactly where The cheery greeting came we’ll be off.” sporting fifties from a man in his late and wearing a neatly trimmed beard were We a grey cap and coveralls.

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Robin White/LightHawk Note: More information on Note: More

LightHawk can be found at www. interested Anyone lighthawk.org. executives wishing for redemption before meeting their maker?) who own small planes, have the money to operate them, have the requisite flying experience, and would like to do something very special to help protect AWA like the organizations I can think of Alberta. For them, wild nothing more useful than becoming a volunteer LightHawk pilot. in becoming a LightHawk pilot, or supporting the organization, about it should contact learning more LightHawk at 1-307-332-3242 or [email protected]. © Donna Jo Massie Jo Donna © Flying with LightHawk saved Cheviot open-pit coal mine June 2005. June mine coal open-pit Cheviot ranchers, business people, or the Coal Valley like (dare I suggest Elk us a twelve-hour drive to Hinton and back plus the high cost of renting a small plane in a place where lack of competition makes this very expensive. LightHawk is aware of the Alberta and environmental situation in expect would like to help. But we can’t up LightHawk pilots to keep flying from the States; we need pilots based and there This is a rich province here. must be some retired or semi-retired two more hours of flying ahead of him before he gets home.” She didn’t Reg does necessary. It wasn’t answer. it for the same reason he took up medicine many years ago. He cares and wants to make a difference.

By two o’clock we were back at © Donna Jo Massie Jo Donna © own expense, just so we can take a few photos of yet another environmental got at least more, he’s What’s atrocity. met before through the mountains of a at his weather, foreign country in iffy “Why does he do this? I mean, I know “Why does he do this? I mean, I know he likes flying; most pilots do. But he’s o’clock this been on the go since five never morning flying two people he’s Springbank and shortly afterwards bade Springbank and shortly afterwards bade As the Cessna roared farewell to Reg. I turned to Marian. down the runway, beautiful mountain landscape may be beautiful mountain landscape may be crudely reclaimed but it can never be restored. first of a planned chain of pits that will first of a planned chain of pits that will should be Albertans stretch for 22 km. When the coal boom turns outraged. to bust and the mine closes, this once C. Olson Dec. 2005). WLA Alberta environment minister Under public pressure, the and other stakeholders to review and recommend how consultation on policy principles for the oil sands area should proceed, and they will produce a report by the end of March. Note that this is about the consultation process and not the principles of the strategy itself. Guy Boutilier commented that stakeholders were expecting the opposed the sale of environmentally significant public land. Its cultural and ecological value exists for the benefit The sale of public land Albertans. of all undermines the public trust and the public right to those lands in favour of our Alberta is trading off private gain. heritage without consulting with the Alberta public. owners of the land, the for New Public Consultation Process MOSS government has caved in on its action plan for the Mineable Oil Sands Strategy (MOSS, see They have replaced the online public consultation and workshops with a five-member advisory committee sectors, composed of different including well-known environmentalist They will work Martha Kostuch. with the Cumulative Environmental Association (CEMA) Management Soderglen Ranches Ltd. public Ranches Ltd. public Soderglen The leases are being traded for AWA has completed its 2005 has completed its AWA For many years, AWA has AWA For many years, AWA has been part of a mixed AWA land leases in southern Alberta are Alberta land leases in southern Bighorn Wildland Recreation Wildland Bighorn AWA report. interim Project Monitoring Resource Alberta Sustainable met with for a land trade in the Bow Island area which contradicted the advice by the investigating biologist. being converted to deeded lands to The leases accommodate a wind farm. lie in the Peigan Environmentally Area and contain rare fescue Significant grasslands, sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds, and important cultural sites. two sections of deed land in another which the government municipality, claims are of higher conservation made This was the same claim value. damage we observed and what trail work and management needs to be provided AWA done in the study area. all provincial MLAs with a copy of book and the Wildland our Bighorn We executive summary of the report. have received some very positive on responses, as well as encouragement our monitoring study. Public Significant Environmentally Farm Wind Grasslands Sold for local municipalities, and the oil and gas local municipalities, who are trying to get a much industry, clearer picture of what a number of theoretical “futures” might look like. AWA’s Government Encourages Bighorn Study Development in January to share our results and compare them with their discussed the We monitoring data. resource management regimes that resource management and undesirable create unsatisfactory outcomes, landscape and environmental and a less- unrealized social benefits, climate” (ILM than-optimal investment July 2005). Charter, and group, including ranchers the Peksiko landowners (representing Groups), and Livingstone Landowners

N. Douglas PDATES There are signs that initiatives The landowners want to ensure Local ranchers and landowners Local ranchers and U clear: “The province has been criticized for having fragmented regulatory and future approach to land management At a recent Alberta government. by the Integrated Land Management (ILM) workshop, the government made it be the forerunners of a more balanced such as this one in the Livingstone may such as this one in the Livingstone may long-term, well-thought-out plans that long-term, well-thought-out plans that of all consider the cumulative effects future development, rather than on an ad hoc, well-by-well basis. that any future developments in the region are carried out according to zoning, for example – would look like zoning, for example – would look like on the landscape level. land-use strategies and allows us to land-use strategies of what see a visual interpretation scenarios – business as usual different land on based development restricted or in the Livingstone/Porcupine area of in the Livingstone/Porcupine Alberta have commissioned southern Technologies Brad Stelfox of Forem Landscape ALCES (A to run an Simulator) program Cumulative Effects This simulation tool for the region. of different explores the consequences Livingstone Landowners Try ALCES Try Livingstone Landowners

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L 28 ETTERS L WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 29 However, how hard a fight we hard a fight we how However,

favour, the Alberta government, by by government, Alberta the favour, latest favourable into the money putting economic grounds) (on disputable already showing stronger report, is last time. support than which depend on largely have will government, party forms the federal and as both the Conservative the project Reform parties supported and great (including, to our surprise then new biologist/ disappointment, our Bob Mills). MP, environmental teacher have Jean Chrétien Also, we no longer who did more for and Sheila Copps, politicians other any than parks national It is clear the issue is we have ever had. than one highway actually much bigger through one park, as it would require the consent of Parliament to set a precedent against the law prohibiting new through-roads in all national parks. © Donna Jo Massie Jo Donna © © Donna Jo Massie Jo Donna © H. Kariel in our National Banff Park Plan Banff Park Howse Peak Howse and The vandals may be serious about Our natural heritage is not ours ANDALISM while we have the revised while we time (in 1988-90), RDRN was the lead was the RDRN (in 1988-90), time was issue and in the group opposition being a across Canada for given credit time, This in stopping it. major factor Parks Act Parks their proposal, but their proposal is not It serious. It is divorced from reality. and ignores considers only the benefits give The government should the costs. it the burial it deserves. — Geoffery Pounder growth entails endless consumption, destruction, and pollution. to dispose of. It is our obligation to pass it on to future generations Howse The latest study on a intact. Pass road focused on the benefits. An environmental study is to be done environmental impact – that The later. not last. question should come first, satisfied. There can never be enough satisfied. They do not speak of limits; roads. they only talk of growth. Infinite V IS

IGHWAY H ASS P OWSE We have feared for several months have feared for several We The “pave paradise and put up The purpose of national parks is to Why shouldn’t every town in every town in Why shouldn’t The business community in West- The business community in H Howse Pass was about to gain new life Howse Pass was about to gain new life – as we always suspected it would. Last Annual Report 2005 - National Parks Annual Report 2005 that the proposal to put a highway Park over the pristine through Banff By Dorothy Dickson Naturalists From: Red Deer River until the oil runs out; what that means until the oil runs out; is another question. for the environment Proposal Howse Pass Highway Again Surfaces development is sustainable. No doubt development is sustainable. be sustainable oil sands mining will developed so that the environment was so that the environment developed minister and sustained. SRD protected says the government David Coutts that to be confident Albertans wants government “to move forward in a in move forward “to government manner” collaborative open and more oil sands wanted the Albertans and that a parking lot” lobby will never be National parks are supposed to be a haven for wildlife – and we deny even Where are other species that to them. supposed to live? preserve landscapes, habitats, and the survive, To species that live in them. some species range far and wide. The highways are the scene of annual carnage. bear heads the list of species in decline. Environment Minister could give it the go-ahead. Alberta have its own road western The national through the mountains? already above all – are parks – Banff, Roads compromised by human activity. The grizzly fragment the landscape. already working on the Howse Pass Conservative government A proposal. Bob Mills as with Red Deer MP Central Alberta wants another highway Alberta wants Central Absurd, National Park. through Banff Alberta government is The you say? Dear Editor: Dear

For example, recent seismic work I have an ongoing concern that I have an ongoing It’s well known that range It’s 3. The proposed well spacing The proposed 3. ecological integrity of this same land, and many priceless landscape Alberta has vistas. Concurrently, more than $120 billion of on-the-table The in-the- development money. pretty. darkroom picture isn’t — David McIntyre Pass Crowsnest beef is with the government, and within beef is with the government, and within government, where blanket approvals tend to be the status quo for many linear landscape disturbances that are completely unnecessary. near my home and a communications tower just south of my home were all completed before the government knew that rare trees, extremely old trees, an eagle nesting site, several hundred acres of native rangeland, and several archaeological sites were all compromised or destroyed. (“Little things” like this tend to add up quickly.) managers throughout the western U.S. and Canada are overwhelmingly concerned that precious rangeland is being consumed by a host of overlapping threats. Nowhere is this where Alberta, threat greater than in linear disturbances from a host of big-money activities threaten to erase, almost overnight, much of our celebrated rangeland, the defining recent data, at variance with that recent data, at variance available. (They they’ve supplied, is more recent data could simply use the history to and/or wait for production track reserves.) and unnecessary presents a needless a well location on footprint, including Antelope Butte. the slopes of are made many land-use decisions by government people who, while meaning to do the right thing, feel forced to “rubber stamp” development even if they know precious little about an area or about the true on-the-ground Thus, my resource values in question.

D. McIntyre ORCUPINE -P Antelope Butte Antelope IVINGSTONE L Prairie falcons still nest on the Prairie falcons still 2. Win Energy is “justifying” Energy Win 2. 1. The application has no 1. A Win Energy foot in the door, foot in the door, Energy Win A THE

west side of the butte, and it’s also and it’s west side of the butte, grouse, blue grouse and home to ruffed of sharp-tailed a significant population elk, moose, of deer, grouse, two species that would justify the request. the application by using antiquated data from a well drilled in 1975. More open the surrounding landscape to similar – intense, but not easily defined calls The noted application – impact. for closer spacing (two wells/section) within section 33 and sets the stage for spacing that could reach eight (and The possibly more) wells per section. application has obvious environmental and landscape integrity concerns. it has the following Additionally, engineering problems: attachment providing geological data badlands and hoodoos (part of the a Milk River Formation) outcrop amid stunning pygmy pine forest that offers dramatic and striking views into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. within the noted section (33), would through the area in the 1980s. through the area in cougar and wolf. and the occasional butte are also The landforms on the provide one of visually striking and province where the only places in the IN

OMBING B ARPET C ORE Recently (October 2005), while Application #139666 is for Section Ferreting my way backward into Ferreting my way backward Last April, Win Energy made an Energy Win April, Last Antelope Butte is an Alberta Antelope Butte is an M

hiking on Antelope Butte, I noticed that hiking on 33, T9, R2, W5 – that is, within gunshot W5 – that T9, R2, 33, an Antelope Butte, from the crest of brought recently I that landmark Alberta Coutts David to the attention of MLA eagles returned yearly until the existing line (and support towers) went 500KV Also, when reviewing the recent history of the butte, I discovered that there an eagle’s was, within recent memory, The nest on the west side of the butte. planned activity were aware that some of the limber pines on the butte could be more than one thousand years old. light of this, I’m wondering, especially in light of the public lands status of this landscape, if reviewers of this seismic lines had been surveyed across the southern flanks of the butte. In (among others) due to a seismic survey along its flanks. term, the economic aspects of pipeline term, the economic aspects of pipeline construction. well spacing density would simply enhance, short-term, the rate-of-flow capabilities, thus “justifying,” short- density appear (from an engineering perspective) to have no real benefit to gas production; the proposed must be considered nothing less than must be considered nothing less than an attempt to get a foot in the door the to further applications. Further, rationale for the increased well spacing well spacing within very vague, but The proposed eye-opening parameters. increases in well spacing density Mountain in northern Montana. application (#1396661) to increase from the Chain Lakes area (to the from the Chain Lakes north), southward to (and beyond) Chief area, the Porcupine Hills, and more than area, the Porcupine of Rocky Mountain one hundred miles extending expanse landscape a – skyline application, I provide the following: application, I provide the Oldman landmark. It overlooks Whaleback the greater River valley, Dear Editor: Dear aspects of a “recent” the on-the-ground drilling Energy Win (April 2005)

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L 30 EVENTS WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1 31 prior to Being Caribou won the Grand stave off hungry grizzly bears, swim stave off Prize at the recent Banff International International Prize at the recent Banff coincide with this Edmonton To will be hosting a AWA presentation, Members Munch and Mingle the presentation: Royal Glenora Club, Edmonton Road, Valley - River 11160 4:30 – 6:30 pm for further details. AWA Please contact Arctic rivers, and endure countless blizzards and bugs. Mountain Book Festival and will be available in Canadian bookstores on April 1, 2006. Calgary 2006 April 11, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. of Theatre (main branch John Dutton the Calgary Public Library) Edmonton April 12, 2006 Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Alberta, University of Room 1-003, Learning Teaching Engineering 1-003) Complex (ETL he hand-forged unique iron roses and he hand-forged works. Knowing custom architectural a he outfitted his time was limited, sailed from boat and single-handedly tropics. Dave will Nova Scotia to the and friends who be missed by family love Dave’s have chosen to remember a contribution of the wilderness with Association. Wilderness Alberta to the sympathy and our sincere offer We appreciation.

EWS ANZER N M ORDON EMORIAM G M SSOCIATION David Gordon Manzer, well- David Gordon Manzer, N For the better part of the past Using spectacular images and I A AVID D known outfitter and adventurer, died adventurer, known outfitter and Alberta Edmonton, January 5, 2006 in riders along ridgetops or playing music riders along ridgetops Dave was an exceptional at a campfire. self-made tools, With artist blacksmith. surrounded by friends. Dave lived his surrounded by friends. in the mountains life adventurously he took As an outfitter, and at sea. Wilmore into adventure-seekers Park, a place he loved. Wilderness element leading Dave was truly in his award-winning National Film Board documentary of the same name, Heuer will share insights from the five-month journey that saw the young newlyweds decade, Canmore-based wildlife biologist, park warden, and author Karsten Heuer has followed some of most endangered America’s North wildlife on foot and on skis. His latest epic adventure was a 1,500-kilometer journey with 123,000 caribou from Alaskan winter range to Yukon their calving-grounds and back. readings from his book, Being Caribou, as well as clips from his wife Leanne’s BEING CARIBOU Presentation by Karsten Heuer A ROGRAM

P OUSE H We received the received We PEN O for all talks for Institute Tuesday, March 28, 2006 March Tuesday, Alberta Really Prospering? Is Alberta in Progress True Measuring of the Pembina Taylor Amy With Tuesday, March 7, 2006 March Tuesday, Conservation and Ecosystem Cougar Complexity Kyle Knopff With Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Tuesday, Seasons of the Bison Olson Wes With Cost: $5 per person: $1 for children Contact: (403) 283-2025 for reservations advised is Pre-registration CALGARY 455 12th St NW AWA, Location: 7:00 p.m. Time: would appear to be an army of eyes would appear to be and an educated populace.” that “it shows what can be achieved what can be achieved that “it shows armed with citizenry, when a concerned their voices heard. accurate data, make important allies most The landscape’s Editor’s Note: Editor’s preceding letter in the fall of 2005; of 2005; in the fall letter preceding Win that it is our understanding for their application withdrew Energy – at least for well spacing increased commented McIntyre Mr. the present. © Donna Jo Massie [email protected] Box 6398, Station D Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 T2P Alberta Calgary, Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 485535 • ISSN# 40065626 Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Alberta Wilderness Association Wilderness Alberta Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Return Undeliverable Canadian

VENTS WLA February 2006 • Vol.14,No.1

E 32