Vol.38 No.1 | 2019 Published by the Wilderness Committee
FREE REPORT VE TH SkSAagEit
END LOGGING AND MINING THREAT Joe Foy, overstated. Wilderness habitats protected in Skagit and Manning premier to stop the chainsaws, to no Co-Executive Director within the Skagit headwaters are provincial parks.5 However, the rest avail. By winter four new clearcuts @JoeFoyWild required to recover B.C.’s North of its lands aren’t protected. They scarred the mountainsides. Cascade population of grizzly bears are covered by a 1984 treaty — the What successive B.C. governments — the priority grizzly population for High Ross Treaty — between B.C. have been too slow to grasp is just recovery in the province.2 Over 200 and Seattle calling for conservation how vital the headwaters of the species of birds have to protect the health of Skagit River are to the health and 6 been documented here The recent clearcut the watershed. wellbeing of the region’s people and he Skagit River rises in the and the area contains Which is why wildlife. This river and its tributary TCascade Mountains from important forest habitat logging in the Donut environmental groups streams are located near the town wetlands, rivulets and tarns located for the endangered Hole is a wake-up call on both sides of the of Hope. The headwaters are within on both sides of the 49th parallel, northern spotted owl.3 4 border were surprised a half day drive of over six million eventually entering the Salish Sea Climate change’s for all those who love when last year the people including those from Metro near Mount Vernon, Washington. increased stress on our the Skagit B.C. government — Seattle, Bellingham, Metro Vancouver The area’s lush forests and clean environment through through its own BC and the Fraser Valley.9 And it’s a clear waters support an impressive forest fires and smaller Timber Sales (BCTS) major outdoor recreation destination diversity of fish and wildlife, salmon runs makes protecting the — allowed clearcutting in the featured in local hiking guidebooks.10 including an important run of Skagit even more important. headwaters of the Skagit River in These headwaters are unceded chinook salmon.1 The good news is about two- an area surrounded by those parks. Indigenous lands. Upper Skagit, This area’s importance can’t be thirds of B.C.’s Skagit headwaters are Nicknamed the Donut Hole, the Stó:lō, Syilx and Nlaka’pamux people forest here hasn’t been granted have accessed the Skagit headwaters provincial park status because of a forests, meadows and streams since pre-existing mineral claim tenure time immemorial for essentials such currently owned by the mining as clean water, wild foods, old- company, Imperial Metals.7 growth wood and other cultural While we scrambled to get it materials needed for medicines and stopped, BCTS was allowed to grind spirituality.11 on over the long days of summer Recent clearcut logging in the and into the fall of 2018.8 Both the Donut Hole is a wake-up call for all mayor of Seattle and governor of those who love the Skagit. It’s time Washington State called on B.C.’s to protect it for good. Photo top: 18 Mile Creek (Paul Morgan). Photos above: grizzly bear (Don Johnston), clearcut in Smitheram Valley, Donut Hole (WC files). WHAT’S AT RISK IN SKAGIT COUNTRY
DONUT HOLE remains pristine to this day and much KLESILKWA RIVER Swanee Lake and its old-growth The Donut Hole is a 5,800-hectare of the valley bottom is designated as Klesilkwa River and its tributary forests would be protected as well. hole in Manning and Skagit protected northern spotted owl habitat. Maselpanik Creek drain the mountains These two spots are designated as provincial parks. It contains three BCTS has proposed building a to the west of Skagit Valley Provincial habitat areas for the endangered large valleys that drain into the network of logging roads through Park. Klesilkwa and Maselpanik have northern spotted owl.22 Skagit — Smitheram, 26 Mile and the area to enable large-scale already been heavily logged. However, Logging continues to pick away Silverdaisy. clearcutting. The Donut Hole must there are still many reasons these valleys and endanger forest habitat in the Although it was left out of park be protected now.16 should be protected from further upper Silverhope Creek watershed protection because of a pre-existing damage. and protection should be granted mineral claim, the immediate SUMALLO RIVER The valleys are important fish and immediately. threat is logging. In the early 2000s Sumallo River is a tributary of the wildlife habitat and will become key BC Timber Sales began clearcut Skagit and grizzly bear refuge areas once they UPPER CHILLIWACK RIVER logging in Smitheram Valley — drains the increase back to healthy numbers. Paleface Creek and Depot Creek habitat supposedly set aside for mountains They are the location of a historic trail both drain into Chilliwack Lake. the endangered northern spotted to the west route scouted out in the late 1850s Though the lake is in a protected owl.12 13 Protests by environmental of Manning to access the Fraser River gold rush.20 park, the two creeks aren’t. By groups helped stop the logging — Provincial Park. These valleys must be protected now protecting Paleface and Depot until 2018 when it started up again. The Sumallo to go through a process of natural creeks, the Trans Canada Trail section Now, BCTS is asking for government drainage regeneration. going over the Paleface-Silverhope approval to log in Silverdaisy and 26 has several Pass would be protected and would Mile valleys as well.14 unprotected Photo: Sumallo Valley (WC files). UPPER SILVERHOPE CREEK be a great recreation feature.23 Although Silverdaisy Valley saw and unlogged Silverhope Creek lies just west of industrial development decades ago, valleys including 20 Mile, 18 Mile the Skagit River watershed and flows the valley essentially remains unlogged and Laforgue. It also drains Mount to the Fraser River. The Silverhope and is home to a popular hiking trail Outram. Both 18 Mile Valley and Creek Valley is the route the Skagit to Silverdaisy Peak.15 26 Mile Valley Mount Outram have popular hiking River access road follows as it makes trails.17 18 All three valleys have been its way south from near Hope to designated as northern spotted owl Skagit Valley Provincial Park. wildlife habitat areas (WHA).19 A tiny area is currently protected While there are currently no by Silver Lake Provincial Park, but the Photo: wild lupines (John E. Marriott). logging plans for the Sumallo, upper watershed of Silverhope Creek nothing is holding logging operations warrants protection to ensure future back so it’s only a matter of time. The logging operations don’t harm the Sumallo drainages need to be fully unlogged Eaton Creek Valley and its 21 Photo: view from Silverdaisy Peak, Donut Hole (WC files). protected now. popular hiking trail to Eaton Lake.
Hope 5 Fraser River Spotted PROPOSED PROTECTION IN SKAGIT REGION 1 Owl WHA
3 Silver Lake SilverhopeCreek ¯ Prov Mt Park Creek Outram Ghost 0 2.5 5 km Pass Ferguson River E.C. Spotted 18 Mile Cr Eaton Manning Owl 20 Mile Cr Lake Sumallo Spotted WHA LaforgueCr Provincial Swanee Owl River Lake WHA Park Creek Upper Donut Silverhope Upper SilverdaisyHole Cr Smitheram Cantelon Skagit Cr Creek Skagit 3 26 Mile Cr Watershed River Skagit River Trail Watershed Hicks Cr River Silver Skagit Rd Canada Trail Skagit
Maselpanik Creek Maselpanik
Trans
Some Hiking Trails Klesilkwa Highways E.C. Silver Skagit Rd Skagit Proposed Protected Areas Manning in BC Skagit Region Valley Parks and Protected Areas Chilliwack Provincial River Provincial Wildlife Habitat Areas Paleface Cr (WHA) with No Logging Lake Park Park Allowed Upper Cutblock Status Prov Chilliwack Ross Approved Park Pending Approval River Lake British Columbia Logged Proposed BCTS Info Watershed Washington (USA) Pasayten Cutblocks 2019 to 2023 North Cascades National Park Wilderness SKAGIT WATERSHED IN BC AND WASHINGTON
Cascade Mountains 1 SEEING THE BIG PICTURE 5 Princeton 3 British Hope hen it comes to parks and protected areas, many Columbia River Keremeos Wof us in Canada and the U.S. can’t see past the 1 E.C. Manning border. We’re knowledgeable about parks in our own Vancouver Chilliwack Skagit Cathedral Snowy Fraser Valley Prov Protected Chilliwack Park Provincial Area countries, but fail to see the connection between what’s Surrey Cultus Lake Lake Prov Prov Park Salish Abbotsford Prov Park Park 24 & Liumchen Park Sea Ecol Reserve protected just over the border. B.C.’s Skagit Valley is a British Columbia Mt. Baker Pasayten good example of this, as it’s part of one of the largest Washington (USA) North Wilderness Wilderness Cascades and most diverse regions of contiguous cross-border National protected lands in North America. Park Bellingham Skagit River South of the border, the North Cascades National Park, Watershed 20 Mount Baker National Wilderness and Recreation Areas, 5 Skagit Winthrop the Pasayten Wilderness and Loomis Forest are linked River with Canada’s Liumchen and Chilliwack River Ecological Mt Vernon Reserves, as well as Cultus Lake, Chilliwack Lake, Skagit Victoria Salish Glacier Valley, Manning, Cathedral and Snowy Mountain Sea Peak Washington provincial parks. This combined network of cross-border Wilderness (USA) wildlands total over one million hectares in size and serves as a critical wildlife corridor. This is the region’s Everett best hope of holding on to and recovering Some Major Highways 25 ¯ Skagit River Watershed much-loved fish and wildlife populations. 5 0 10 20 km 2 Parks & Protected Areas (including BC Provincial Parks & Protected Areas, and US National Forest Wilderness Designation; but not including Washington State level protected areas) Seattle North Cascades National Park in US
Photos left to right: hiker on Silverdaisy Peak (WC files), red crossbill (Grambo Photography), west entrance to Manning Provincial Park (WC files), bobcat (Jakob Dulisse), ancient Douglas-fir, 18 Mile Valley (WC files).
SKAGIT HEADWATERS NO PLACE THE 1984 HIGH ROSS TREATY
FOR A GIANT COPPER MINE n 1942 Seattle City Light, the public The purposes of SEEC, as stated in Icompany in charge of providing the treaty, include protecting Skagit he Donut Hole hasn’t been company was never fined for the electricity to Seattle, began to wilderness areas, improving hiking trails Tgranted park protection because disaster — believed to be the biggest negotiate an agreement with B.C. to and buying out mining and logging of a pre-existing mineral tenure held mine tailings spill ever in Canada.29 raise the Ross Dam — just south of rights. It is currently pursuing the by Imperial Metals.26 Their “Giant A large copper mine in the the border in Washington State — by purchase of the mineral tenure in the Copper” ore body is said to contain Donut Hole would be devastating 37 metres which would have flooded Donut Hole and the B.C. government more than 45 million tons of ore to the region. Acid mine drainage over 2,024-hectares of the Skagit Valley has a responsibility to actively help composed of gold, silver, copper, resulting from mining ore can leach within B.C. with securing the mineral tenure. SEEC molybdenum, uranium and more.27 toxic heavy metals such as copper, In 1967 the agreement was finally is calling for BCTS logging in the Donut Although this zinc, cadmium and completed and made public. Though Hole to cease and for the area to be ore body could others, which can be supported by the B.C. government, put off-limits to further logging. After be extracted by extremely harmful to the agreement faced intense public the Donut Hole is fully protected, it is open-pit mining, fish and other aquatic opposition in the province when expected SEEC will turn its attention it would likely be life. Even a slight people learned the company was to getting the remaining portion of too expensive increase in trace paying only $5.50 per acre per year the Skagit and surrounding lands fully because so amounts of copper for the destruction of this region. By protected too.32 much material above natural stream the 1970s it had blown up into a full- would need to levels, for example, Photo: alpine lake at source of Silverdaisy Creek, on environmental campaign to save be dug up in Donut Hole (WC files). suppresses the the Skagit. a location hemmed in by provincial ability of trout and salmon to smell, B.C. and Seattle negotiated to parks.28 It’s also situated in the making it harder to avoid predators, resolve the issue and the result was headwaters of the Skagit watershed find mates and return to spawning the 1984 High Ross Treaty. In the treaty, which is an extremely essential and grounds.30 Seattle City Light agreed not to raise sensitive international fisheries habitat. The Skagit Environmental Ross Dam for 80 years in exchange Imperial Metals also owns the Endowment Commission (SEEC) is for power purchased from B.C. at Mount Polley Mine located in B.C.’s actively looking at ways to buy the rates equivalent to what would have Cariboo region. A massive tailings mineral tenure from Imperial Metals resulted from building the dam. It also breach there in 2014 spilled 24 so the entire area can be protected. created the Skagit Environmental million cubic metres of mine waste In this way, the nightmare of mine Endowment Commission to manage into rivers, streams and lakes, pollution leaching into the Skagit can an endowment fund to preserve including Quesnel Lake. Several be avoided. The B.C. government the pristine wilderness and fish and studies are ongoing at Quesnel Lake needs to work with SEEC to ensure wildlife habitat in the Upper Skagit Photos: chinook salmon (Barrie Kovish), mineral core to determine what the actual long- the Donut Hole is protected as fast as Watershed. sample shack, Donut Hole (WC files). term impacts will be to salmon. The possible.31 DELAYS AND HALF-MEASURES OUR PROMISE f there’s one thing the latest BC by logging roads or clearcuts. TO PROTECT ITimber Sales clearcutting in the Every dithering moment of references 1. “Fish of the Skagit River and How They’re Doing.” Skagit Donut Hole area has taught us, it’s inaction by the province risks the n 2010 the world’s wealthy Watershed Council. Sep. 24, 2018. https://bit.ly/2REXGP1
that we can’t be complacent in clear waters of the Skagit being Icountries including Canada signed 2. “Recovery plan for grizzly bears in the North Cascades of British Columbia.” North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery getting B.C.’s Skagit River headwaters drowned by mud and silt pouring the UN Convention on Biological Team,Government of British Columbia. Jan. 19, 2001. protected. off logging operations or mine Diversity, committing to protect 17 https://bit.ly/2FgpbeF 3. “A land and resource management review for the Skagit The provincial government, in waste, busting loose and spewing per cent of their territory within a Environmental Endowment Commission.” Environmental Law 33 Centre Clinic University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. Feb. 2005. cooperation with First Nations, must down the mountainside. decade. Since then, member nations https://bit.ly/2CY9Wov
pass legislation putting Now is not the time have been investing in new parks 4. “Spotted Owl Management Plan Strategic Component.” Spotted Owl Management Inter-agency Team, Government of the Donut Hole, Sumallo, for half measures. Now and protected areas. British Columbia. Nov. 1997. https://bit.ly/2SKIX55
Klesilkwa, upper Silverhope is the time to get the job However, Canada lags far behind. 5. “A land and resource management review for the Skagit and upper Chilliwack done once and for all, Since the declaration, the country has Environmental Endowment Commission.” Ibid. 6. “High Ross Treaty.” Government of British Columbia, City of watersheds off-limits to which means the Skagit’s gone from 9.6 per cent to just 10.6 per Seattle. Jun. 5, 1984. https://bit.ly/2VFxx4O
logging and other industrial unprotected areas must be cent protected area. That’s laughably far 7. “Silverdaisy Integrated Management Plan.” Government of activities — immediately. protected now. from the 17 per cent goal.34 British Columbia. Apr. 26, 1999. https://bit.ly/2TDxsNc Photo: long-toed 8. Pynn, Larry. “Seattle mayor pressures Premier Horgan for Every day of government salamander (Jacob Dulisse). Please write today And that goal is just the tip of the ‘immediate halt’ to logging near Canada-U.S. border.” Vancouver inaction means the Skagit and urging the B.C. government iceberg. Many scientists believe Sun. Aug. 17, 2018. https://bit.ly/2L0XnJQ 9. “A land and resource management review for the Skagit surrounding lands risk losing even to legislate a ban on logging humanity’s long-term survival Environmental Endowment Commission.” Ibid. more wildlife habitat to logging. within the Skagit and depends on protecting at least 50 10. Hui, Stephen. “105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia.” Greystone Books Ltd. Jun. 5, 2018. Hope is fading for at-risk species like surrounding areas immediately. per cent of the planet as wild nature 11. “Human History of the Upper Skagit Watershed.” Fraser- northern spotted owls and the North Call on them to obtain the mineral to halt human-caused species loss Cascade Mountain School and Hope Mountain Centre. Jan. 2008. https://bit.ly/2TFPL4l 35 Cascade population of grizzlies. tenure within the Donut Hole and slow climate change. Bhutan 12. Foy, Joe. “2004 05 22 Manning Park Clearcut Campout” [Video Every day of delay in protecting the from Imperial Metals so B.C.’s entire and Venezuela are examples of two file]. Jun. 14, 2014. https://bit.ly/2GZGe6o Skagit puts much-loved hiking trails Skagit watershed and surrounding countries that have already protected 13. “Spotted Owl Management Plan Strategic Component.” Ibid. 36 14. “BCTS 5-Year Operating Plan Chilliwack Natural Resource like Silverdaisy, Ghost Pass and Eaton lands can be granted the around half of their territories. District 92H.015.” BC Timber Sales. Sep. 26, 2018. Lake at greater risk of being carved up protected area status we all want. Within Canada, Indigenous Peoples https://bit.ly/2FgBTJQ often lead the way. On the west coast, 15. “Silverdaisy Mountain Trail.” Trailpeak. https://bit.ly/2TwxYfy 16. “BCTS 5-Year Operating Plan Chilliwack Natural Resource the Haida Nation have protected more District 92H.015.” Ibid. 37 than half of their territory on land. 17. Ludwig, Chris. “Mount Outram Trail.” BC Mountaineering Club. https://bit.ly/2RcY0bf B.C. should follow their lead. Protecting 18. “Ghost Pass Trail.” Government of British Columbia. the Skagit would help move Canada https://bit.ly/2sgbHY7 closer to fulfilling its commitment to 19. “Spotted Owl Management Plan Strategic Component.” Ibid. protect 17 per cent by 2020. 20. “Human History of the Upper Skagit Watershed.” Ibid. 21. Redford, Tony. “Eaton Lake Trail.” Hiking Project. Sep. 14, 2017. https://bit.ly/2ABa2AV
22. “Spotted Owl Management Plan Strategic Component.” Ibid.
Photos: stacked logs in upper Smitheram Valley, Donut Hole, upper Silverdaisy Valley, Donut Hole (WC files). 23. “Trans Canada Trail (The Great Trail) in the Chilliwack and Silverhope River Valleys via Paleface Pass, 114 km.” Trails BC. https://bit.ly/2CdBvIG
24. Engelson, Andrew. “British Columbia Hiking, So many reasons for hiking north of the border.” Washington Trails. Jul. 2006. https://bit.ly/2VG3Znl
25. “A land and resource management review for the Skagit TAKE ACTION Environmental Endowment Commission.” Ibid. 26. “Silverdaisy Integrated Management Plan.” Ibid.
27. “A land and resource management review for the Skagit Protect BC’s Skagit Headwaters! Environmental Endowment Commission.” Ibid.
28. Farquharson, Ken. “A letter from Ken Farquharson, former SEEC Please contact BC’s premier and ministers of environment Commissioner.” Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission. and forests and ask them for immediate action to: https://bit.ly/2FgRI37 29. Linnet, Carol. “It’s Official: No Provincial Charges for Mount Polley Mine Spill, One of Largest Environmental Disasters in Halt all logging in BC’s Skagit Watershed Canadian History.” The Narwhal. Feb. 3, 2018. https://bit.ly/2RG4zSQ
Secure the mineral tenure in the Donut Hole in BC’s 30. Price, M.H.H. “Sub-lethal Metal Toxicity Effects on Salmonids: A Review.” SkeenaWild Conservation Trust. Dec. 13, 2013. Skagit Watershed https://bit.ly/2C7An9K 31. Farquharson, Ken. Ibid.
In cooperation with First Nations, designate the Skagit 32. “High Ross Treaty.” Ibid. Watershed and the upper Silverhope and upper 33. Galloway, Gloria. “Canada lags in conservation efforts.” The Photo: northern spotted owl (Francios-Xavier Globe and Mail. Nov. 12, 2017. https://tgam.ca/2uRakl7 Chilliwack watersheds as Protected Area DeRuydts). 34. Galloway, Gloria. Ibid.
35. Dinerstein, Eric et al. “An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm.” American Institute of Premier of BC – Email: [email protected] or Phone: 250-387-1715 Biological Sciences. Apr. 5, 2017. https://bit.ly/2C6naOk BC Environment Minister – Email: [email protected] or Phone: 250-387-1187 36. Haines, Gavin. “Mapped: The countries doing most to protect BC Forests Minister – Email: [email protected] or Phone: 250-387-6240 their land (#1 might surprise you).” The Telegraph. Dec. 14, 2016. https://bit.ly/2ADaCy6
37. Mickleburgh, Rod. “The cedar house rules: Haida Gwaii’s land- rights revolution.” The Globe and Mail. Apr. 30, 2018. WildernessCommittee.org • 1-800-661-WILD (9453) https://tgam.ca/2Qu3Gs8 CREDITS HERE’S MY SUPPORT TO Writing: Joe Foy Editing: Alex Hsuan Tsui YES! Art Director: Sue Fox Graphic Design: Perry Sky Jack SAVE THE SKAGIT Mapping: Geoff Senichenko Wilderness Committee, Vol.38, No.1, 2019. clip Canadian Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 0900567. Return to: Posted in Vancouver for free distribution. Printed in Canada Wilderness Committee Enclosed is: $35 $60 $150 Other $ ______on recycled newsprint with vegetable-based inks. 46 E. 6th Avenue, Fed. reg. charity #11929-3009-RR0001 Press Run 20,000 © Wilderness Committee 2019. All rights reserved. Written material may be used without Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 permission when credit is given. Published by click NAME PHONE Wilderness Committee — National Office WildernessCommittee. 46 E. 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 org/Donate 604-683-8220 or 1-800-661-9453 604-683-8229 ADDRESS CITY call 604-683-8220 in the PROVINCE POSTAL CODE EMAIL Yes, send me updates via email. Email my tax receipt. Lower Mainland, BC Your gift will be put towards our critical wilderness preservation work. 1-800-661-9453 toll-free WILDERNESS People-powered wilderness preservation for a wild future. COMMITTEE elsewhere in Canada