Peace River Regional District REPORT

To: Chair and Directors Date: October 17, 2013

From: Jo-Anne Frank, Corporate Officer

Subject: Notice of Motion from Director Hadland – Site C / BCUC

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Board consider Director Hadland’s Notice of Motion.

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:

At its October 10, 2013 meeting, the Board resolved:

“That the Notice of Motion from Director Hadland, Electoral Area ‘C’, regarding Strategic Priorities Chart Advocacy Item: Site C Oversight – BCUC, be referred to the October 24, 2013 Board meeting.”

STRATEGIC PLAN RELEVANCE: None

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION(S): None

COMMUNICATIONS CONSIDERATION(S): None

OTHER CONSIDERATION(S): None

ATTACHMENT: – Proposed Site C Topics For Discussion at Board Meeting October 24th, 2013.

Staff Initials: Dept. Head: CAO: Page 1 of 1 PROPOSED SITE C TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION @ BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 24TH, 2013

REGIONAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION and STRATEGIES

1. Residents of Area C (Old Fort/Grandhaven). A total disruption of homes, businesses & lifestyles. Please refer to an earlier submission by the Directors from Area B and C, noise and dust will be a severe issue. (see Attachment) 2. Land Use issues such as proposed fill pit on the Shaman property. What do we expect if excavation proceeds? Is BCHPA subject to the Land Use By-Law of PRRD? If not, why not? We need to control our own land use destiny. 3. Road system: Where & who will they impinge upon? Plus the proposed fill conveyor route. 4. Worker Camps: The one proposed by the Old Fort would be very negative for the surrounding community. Are there alternative locations removed for our community? 5. Ambulance and health services for Areas B and C would be maxed out. These systems are already stretched to the limit. What course of action do we need to recommend? 6. The North Peace Solid Waste Site lies in a potential slumpage zone, adjacent to the proposed reservoir. It has the potential to negatively impact the proposed reservoir. Please refer to Weisgerber Report: Quaternary Geology and Landforms of the Eastern Peace River Region of by N.R. Catto (Attached) http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/PublicationsCatalogue/OpenFiles/1991/Documents/OF1991-11.pdf Possible mitigation may be the closure of the landfill and replacement of a new site in a remote area (i.e. Del Rio) utilizing a cogeneration facility producing electricity for the grid in conjunction with recycling initiatives. 7. Expropriation threats and procedures: Some residents inside and outside the proposed pondage have been or will be subject to expropriation threats and procedures. These forces have been in place since 1957. It is suggested that this has stymied growth and development in the valley and surrounding area. This is an ugly vehicle of convenience used by Government authorities over people who through no fault of their own are very negatively impacted by this power. It is all of the people of the valley who have lived this threat for the past 50 years with no recognition or compensation for this silent but omnipresent cloud over their lives. This needs to be addressed in a meaningful manner. 8. Access to air transport for the Regional Community would be taxed to the max. This issue needs to be addressed to ensure that local community members have priority access to aircraft transportation. 9. Recreational access would be hazardous. According to the Thurber Report, it is noted that the valley in its natural state has superior recreational opportunities compared to post- reservoir construction. 10. Safety – refer to the Weisgerber Report and the writer’s observations. 11. Municipal boundary expansion in the rural area is predicated on the proposed construction has not recognized the people and lands who would be most impacted by proposed Site C. ……2 12. Stewardship of our Valley and its complex range of resources and land use should be addressed regionally. Please refer to the attached opinion by the editor of the Vancouver Business Magazine and the writer’s response to the editorial. 13. The destruction of Prehistoric and early pioneer sites are being ignored or marginalized. i.e. Rocky Mountain Fort (1794) and Rocky Mtn. Portage Fort (1806) 14. Proclamation (Attached ) 15. The Legacy Term Paper has not recognized the people and lands who would be most impacted by proposed Site C. Areas B and C and the District of Hudson’s Hope are not signatories to the document. It is suggested that there is no meaningful agreement recognizing the people and lands most negatively permanently disrupted by the proposed Site C.

It is the writer’s contention that there many more items that need to be addressed on a regional basis, both for mitigation and for critical analysis of the need for the project i.e. Scrutiny by BCUC.

In summary, this is a regional issue of significant long term consequences for the people of Area B, Area C, Hudson’s Hope and Fort St. John. Other people in the peripheral jurisdictions would experience a lesser impact.

Arthur A Hadland Director of Area C

PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT

Offices of:Arthur Hadland, Director Area “C” Karen Goodings, Director Area “B”

March 20, 2013

Linda Jones, Panel Manager Brian Murphy, Executive Project Director Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency B.C. Environmental Assessment Office 22nd Floor, 160 Elgin Street PO Box 9426 StnProvGovt Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1 [email protected] Fax: 250-356-7477

Dear Ms. Jones and Mr. Murphy:

RE: The proposed Site C

As Directors of electoral Areas B and C of the Peace River Regional District, we are asking that the Environmental Review Panel examine the following factors in detail:

Peace Region People's Impacts

It will be the

 250 people at Grandhaven and the Old Fort (south of 85th Avenue);  residents and food producers within Area B of the proposed reservoir impact lines;  and community of Hudson’s Hope

who will feel the negative aspects of the actual dam construction.

The project is touted to be of seven years duration. The obvious impacts are concentrated within the nearby communities of Old Fort and Grandhaven. There will be constant light and heavyduty traffic, new roads, noise and dust on a continuous daily basisfor all of the construction period.

The network of construction access roads, conveyor running on a continuous daily basis, and the actual excavation at the quarry on 85th Avenue will be intrusive and overwhelming for all the surrounding citizens.

… 2

PLEASE REPLY TO: BOX 810, DAWSON CREEK, BC VIG 4H8 TELEPHONE: (250) 784-3200 or (800) 670-7773 FAX: (250) 784-3201 EMAIL: [email protected]

X 9505 100 STREET, FORT ST. JOHN, BC V1J 4N4 TELEPHONE: (250) 785-8084 Fax: (250) 785-1125EMAIL: [email protected]

Firstly the most identifiable and constant impact will be the noiseon a on a continuous daily basis . “Noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health. Day and night, at work and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. People appear to adjust to noise by ignoring but the ear in fact, never closes. The body at times still responds with extreme tension, such as to a strange sound at night.

The most outward symptom of stress building up in humans, when faced with noise is annoyance.

Exposure to excessive noise can also induce or aggravate stress related health outcomes, including those on the cardiovascular system, immune system, sleep, task performance, behavior, and mental health”. (Health and Welfare Canada 1989) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0165178189900474

This information and the significant noise, light and disturbance factors need to be fully satisfied prior to any future decision-making. We feel it is of importance that the proponent, BCHydrorecognize the interests of these impacted citizens

A second impact that the proponent BC Hydro needs to recognize, is that the noise and disturbance will cause the impacted residents to lose a significant and measurable loss of the rural lifestyle including actual depreciation of the real property. It is doubtful that the surrounding properties could be sold at fair market value due to the previously mentioned negative impacts. In real property terms the owners of these lands will lose a portion of their Bundle of Rights described as quiet enjoyment. It is doubtful that this loss and the peoples’ lifestyle losses can be meaningfully compensated.

The residents of the valley and surrounding uplands will suffer these same effects plus the cumulative loss of quiet enjoyment going back to the granting of Wenner-Gren’s charter over the Valley in 1957. Hudson’s Hope has not benefited from the accumulated development of two previous dams. The town has lost economic opportunities. i.e. wood supply for a local wood industry. Again the business community and the infrastructure of the town has languished after the construction periods of WAC Bennett and the Peace Canyon Dams. The town site itself hasn’t been displaced (not yet – Site C would do that.)The effects of the project will isolate the area and create a less desirable place to reside.

Again these issues are not recognized and probably are immitigable.

SOCIAL LICENCE The Crown BC Hydro does have the power of expropriation. At the same time it is doubtful that they have the social license to devastate the homes and lifestyles of the people living along and within the Peace Valley.

The proponent BC Hydro is focused on mitigation. It is our belief, speaking for the constituents noted; that there are insurmountable issues that will not be mitigatable. These factors include issues such as the reservoirs obvious instability issues, people displaced, destroying irreplaceable historic sites, permanent loss of precious food producing lands, marginalizing First Nations’ interest, loss of wildlife habitat and the superb recreational River and islands. .. 3

The power of expropriation (in the USA called eminent domain) is generally directed at projects intended for public good. It is strongly suggested that this is not the case for proposed Site C.

In the past three years since then Premier Campbell announced on April 19, 2010 that Site C would proceed to Stage 3, many justifications for building Site C have been offered: 1. Export for California as clean and green energy. 2. Proposed Site C was intended to power 410,000 new homes in British Columbia. No justification was given for this idea. 3. This project was supposed to power the Horn River basin 4. It was then determined that the energy from the proposed C would be used to power the LNG plants at Kitimat. 5. As of today proposed Site C is intended to power 450,000 phantom homes within British Columbia. We believe the above shows that there has been no clear purpose or need for proposed Site C based on a wavering Provincial Energy Policy. If expropriation powers are to be used for private purposes, it is our contention that the Province does not have the social license to flood the Peace River Valley nor is it justification destroying the lifestyles and homes of the people and the natural environment within the Peace Region.

As Directors of Electoral Areas B and C we are asking that the Environmental Review Panel examine these factors in detail, and request that the proponent BC Hydro be tasked to address the foregoing issues with emphasis on noise, light, public health, loss of quiet enjoyment, environmental integrity and the other multitude of factors impacting the Valley. We are of the opinion there will be negative impacts that will not be mitigated.

We feel that there needs to be scrutiny by the British Columbia Utilities Commission*which is independent of the present provincial administration.

Yours truly,

Karen Goodings Arthur Hadland Director, Area “B” Director, Area “C”

*The British Columbia Utilities Commission was created to scrutinize major energy projects. (It was, in fact, created for the specific purpose of examining the Site C project the first time around, in 1980). It has the expertise required to do an in-depth analysis of the need for, alternatives to, and pros & cons of an energy project of this magnitude. Despite being urged to do so, the province has refused. British Columbians are left with only the word of the government and BC Hydro that the electricity is needed. Given that the debt to build the project is guaranteed by the ratepayers of BC, it would seem only fair that those ratepayers be given the benefit of a quasi-judicial hearing where evidence can be cross- examined under oath. Province of British Columbia MINERAL RESOURCES DIVISION Ministry of Energy, Mines and Geological Survey Branch Petroleum Resources Hon. Jack Weisgerber, Minister

QUATERNARY GEOLOGY AND LANDFORMS OF THE EASTERN PEACE RnTER REGION, BRITISH COLUMBIA NTS 94A/1,2,7,8

By N.R. Catto

OPEN FILE 1991-11 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Catto, Norman Rhoderick, 1956- Quaterna~ygeology and landforms of the eastern Peace River region, British Columbia, NTS 94A/1,2,7,8 (Open file, ISSN 0835-3530 ; 1991-11) VICTORIA Includes bibliographical references: p. BRITISH COLUMBIA ISBN 0-7718-9030-3 CANADA 1. Geology, Stratigraphic - Quaternary. 2. Peat - MAY 1991 Geology - British Columbia - Peace River (Regional district) 3. Aggregates (Building materials) - British Columbia - Peace River (Regional district) 4. Geology, Economic - British Columbia - Peace River (Regional district) I. British Columbia. Geological Survey Branch. 11. Title. 111. Series: Open file (British Columbia. Geological Survey Branch) ; 1991-11.

QE187.C37 1991 551.7'9'0971187 C91-092168-7 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 1 Regional Setting ...... 2 GEOLOGY ...... 5 Quaternary Geology Description and Analysis ...... 5 Glaciolacustrine Units (LG) ...... 5 Morainic Units (M) ...... 6 Fluvial Units (F) ...... 8 Colluvial Units (C) ...... 9 Organic Units (0)...... 10 Glaciofluvial Units (FG) ...... 10 Lacustrine Units (L) ...... 11 Eolian Units (E) ...... 11 RESOURCES ...... 13 Aggregate Resources ...... 13 Peat Resources ...... 13 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY ...... 15 Slope Stability ...... 15 Waste Disposal ...... 15 SUMMARY ...... 17 Acknowledgments ...... 17 REFERENCES ...... 19

FIGURES 1. Location map ...... 1 2. Quaternary Geology and Landforms, Fort St. John Map-area (94N2); B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Sheet 2 of 4, 150 000-scale may ...... pocket 3. Quaternary Geology and Landforms, North Pine Map-area (94N7); B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Sheet 3 of 4, 150 000-scale map ...... in pocket 4. Quaternary Geology and Landforms, Alces River Map-area (94A/8); B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Sheet 4 of 4, 150 000-scale map ...... in pocket 5. Quaternary Geology and Landforms, Shearer Dale Map-area (94N1); B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Sheet 1of 4, 150 000-scale map ...... in pocket

Open File 1991-11 iii Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

INTRODUCTION

A multi-faceted series of investigations of The extent of aggregate resources in the the Quaternary geology of the Peace River re- region, and the potential for recognition and gion (Figure 1) of British Columbia were un- exploitation of new resources, was not well dertaken in 1990 (Bobrowsky et al., 1991). As known prior to detailed mapping, although de- part of this program, the southeastern part of posits in the Fort St. John - Taylor area have the region, which encompasses the 150 000 been exploited for some years (Hora, 1988). NTS map areas 9441 (Shearer Dale), 9442 Maynard (1988) commented upon the possibil- (Fort St. John), 94A/7 (North Pine), and 9448 ities for utilizing peat resources for agricultural (Alces River), was mapped in detail (see Fig- and other purposes, but comprehensive data ures 2 to 5 in pocket). This work involved map- were not available for the eastern Peace River ping from aerial photographs, followed by region prior to the detailed mapping reported detailed stratigraphic and sedimentologic field upon in this study. investigations and laboratory analyses of sedi- This paper, therefore, is intended to accom- ment texture and mineralogical composition. pany the maps (Figures 2 to 5 in pocket), and The detailed surficial geology maps produced addresses three objectives: from this work are designed to be of practical to discuss the composition, material prop- use to industry, government, and the general erties, and genesis of the major types of public. 121 56 30

Figure 1. Location map of the Peace River area of British Columbia.

Open File 1991-11 1 British Columbia

Quaternary geological units identified chernozems (under grasslands and long-culti- throughout the four map areas; vated areas). to evaluate the aggregate and peat deposits The topography consists of a series of roll- and resources in the region; and ing plateaux and northeastward-sloping plains, to evaluate the environmental and engi- locally interspersed with sharp cuesta slopes. neering geological aspects of the region. Relief is approximately 300 metres. The region Study of the chronology of mass movement is dissected by an integrated dendritic drainage events and detailed stratigraphic analysis of the system tributary to the Peace River, which de- region formed other components of the re- clines regularly in elevation from approxi- search effort in the Peace River region, and are mately 420 metres at the western margin of the discussed elsewhere (Bobrowsky et al., 1991). mapped area to 400 metres at the provincial REGIONAL SETTING boundary. Valleys of the major tributary streams (Kiskatinaw, Beatton, Pine, Moberly, The Peace River region (Figure 1) lies and Alces Rivers) are deeply incised, with local along the western edge of the Plateau relief exceeding 150 metres. In general, the within the Interior Plains (Mathews, 1986).The upland terrain south of the Peace River is more present climate is continental boreal, marked dissected and shows greater relief than that by cold winters (January mean temperature - north of the river. Mass movements, including 18"C), warm summers (July mean 17"C), mod- rotational and translational slides and a variety erate annual precipitation (600 mm, 200 mm of of sediment gravity flows, commonly occur which falls as snow), a positive net moisture along all the major streams. b:idget, and prevailing westerly winds (Envi- The bedrock consists of the Upper Creta- ronment Canada, 1984). Topographic effects ceous Shaftesbury Formation (dark grey shales along the deeply incised Peace River valley and siltstones, and argillaceous sandstones), have created a 'thermal oasis', where tempera- the Dunvegan Formation (light grey sandstone tures regularly exceed those of the surrounding and interbedded shale, with rare thin coal uplands and prairies by 5°C. seams), and the Kaskapau Formation (silty Vegetation in the region is dominated by shales with thin sandstone beds) (Stott, 1975). the aspen (Populus trernuloides) parkland as- These strata represent a broad marine trans- semblage, with lesser amounts of alder (Alnus gression - regression- transgression cycle, with rugosa), birch (Betula papynjcera), balsam pop- several fluctuations of sea level recorded in the lar (Populus balsamifera), white and black Dunvegan rocks. These units are generally un- l? spruce (Piceaglauca, mariana), and scattered deformed in the eastern part of the Peace River lodgepole pine (Pinus contorts) (Rowe, 1972). region and dip at very low angles towards the This assemblage was actively encroaching southwest. In the southwesternmost part of the throughout the region prior to the advent of area, the bedrock has been affected by north- agricultural activity. Isolated patches of mid- easterly-directed thrusting from the Rocky grass prairie, dominated by wheat grass Mountains, and eastward-dipping strata are (Agropyron), needle grass (Stipa), and sedges common although the bedrock structure has (Carex), are present in the eastern section of little influence on the topography or geomor- the region. Aspect, and the thermal oasis effect phic development of the region. The high con- along the Peace River, have a major influence centrations of montmorillonite and bentonite on microclimate and hence on the local vege- in the strata, however, together with their tation cover. Along south-facing escarpments, poorly consolidated nature, greatly increase warmth-loving plants such as prickly-pear the susceptibility of these rocks to slope failure (Opuntiapolycantha) are infrequently present. following fluvial (or anthropogenic) undercut- The soils in the region are dominantly dark grey ting or overloading. The friability of the strata luvisols (under forested terrain) and black

2 Geological Survey Branch Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources resulted in the erosion, transportation and in- et al. (1991). Further results with stratigraphic corporation of large quantities of the material details, generated in part from the 1990 field into Quaternary deposits. and laboratory investigations, will be presented The Quaternary stratigraphic framework of elsewhere (Bobrowsky et al., in preparation), the Peace River region has been extensively and consequently are not discussed in this con- discussed by Bobrowsky (1989) and Bobrowsky tribution.

Open File 1991-11 3 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

GEOLOGY

QUATERNARY GEOLOGY discussion of each individual unit. The discus- DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS sion which follows is therefore based upon the The terminology and symbols used to des- dominant genetic processes which each unit ignate map units was developed by the British type represents. The unit types are discussed in Columbia Ministries of Environment and order of diminishing prominence and areal ex- Crown Lands (Howes and Kenk, 1988; see leg- tent. end of Figures 2 to 5). Map units are classified in terms of texture, dominant genetic process, surface expression, geological (modifying) pro- Sediments associated with map units inter- cesses and, in some instances by specifying a preted as glaciolacustrine were deposited in qualifying descriptor. In locations where two or one or more glacial lakes which were im- more sediment types are exposed within the pounded to the east by the retreating Lauren- boundaries of a single map unit, a composite tide glaciers (Mathews, 1980; Bobrowsky et al., unit symbol is used, with the dominant unit 1991). The ice front prevented drainage via the listed first. In areas where a unit is present route to the east and northeast. These stratigraphicallybeneath a veneer or blanket of deposits are confined to elevations below 820 another, but influences the topographic ex- metres in the southern part of the region pression or tonal qualities visible on aerial pho- (Shearer Dale and southern Fort St. John map tographs, a compound symbol is used with the areas). In the map areas north of the Peace underlying unit symbol in the denominator. River (North Pine and Alces River), Throughout the eastern Peace River re- glaciolacustrine deposits are generally not gion, many examples of complex sedimentary found above 740 metres elevation. successions were observed, especially along the The most common type of glaciolacustrine deeply incised river valleys or in areas where unit is composed dominantly of silty clay or mass movement activity and alluvial reworking clayey silt, commonly containing 5 to 15 per was prevalent. In these areas, the symbols are cent sand and scattered pebbles and larger unavoidably complex, and the areas repre- clasts. The clays are generally plastic, suscepti- sented by each map unit relatively small. Such ble to sediment gravity flow if disturbed, and areas are subject to modification by further contain a high proportion of material derived mass movement disturbances, and many such from the local Cretaceous bedrock. The sand disturbances were observed during field re- fraction is composed dominantly of quartz, search which post-dated the most recent aerial feldspar, chert, and carbonate minerals, and photographic coverage available. Users of also contains trace quantities of garnet, horn- these maps should be aware that subsequent blende, pyroxene, fluorite, tourmaline, titanite, mass movement activity in these areas may and other heavy minerals derived in part from result in changes in terrain classification. In the Canadian Shield of northeastern Alberta general, it is advisable to treat all slopes along and the Mackenzie District of the N.W.T. Or- the major rivers in the region as potentially thoquartzite, sandstone, shale, granitic, and unstable, and to plan accordingly. gneissic pebbles, along with clasts of other li- The number of map units represented by thologies, were observed. distinct terrain classification symbols precludes

Open File 1991-11 5 British Columbia

A variety of sedimentary structures are Laurentide glaciers. The genesis of these de- present in the finely textured glaciolacustrine posits is discussed extensively by Bobrowsky et sediments. Most exposures are stratified, with al. (1991) and by Liverman (1989 and in prep- either fine stratification defined by alternating aration). clay-rich and clay-poor layers, millimetres or Minor amounts of glaciolacustrine sands tens of millimetres thick, with poorly-defined and sandy silts are also present in the region. contacts; or with well-defined laminations and The units generally form thin blankets over centimetre-thick beds of clay, silt, and sand. morainic silty and clayey diamictons, often on Rarely, glaciolacustrine silt and sandy-silt beds eastward-facing slopes, and are laterally and are cross-stratified, with the orientations of the vertically gradational into both diamictons and strata indicating eastward flow. The sediments finer-textured glaciolacustrine sediments. The in many exposures have been disturbed by ei- units generally are poorly or moderately ther syndepositional or post depositional mass sorted, and are not suitable for aggregate ex- movements, as indicated by contorted stratifi- ploitation except for very local and small-scale cation. Other exposures have been altered by use. pedogenesis, and by frost action generated The deposits were formed by washing and under the modern climate. Such disturbances reworking of previously deposited sediments are very common in the thinner stratigraphic during drainage of the glacial lake, as the ice sequences. front receded to the northeast. Drainage was The fine glaciolacustrine sediments gener- relatively rapid, and hence the deposits are not ally form a veneer (map symbol v; < 1 metre areally extensive or well-developed. In addi- th~k)or a blanket (b; > 1 metre thick) overly- tion, the dominantly east-west orientation of ing other sediments. These units have no geo- the basin, parallel to the prevailing winds, lim- morphic form independent of the underlying ited wave activity on the surfaces of the glacial unit. In most instances, the underlying material lakes and hence precluded the formation of is undulating, rolling, or hummocky morainic well-defined strandlines. diamicton. Contacts between these materials Other minor washed zones, too thin and are commonly gradational and, thin, discontin- laterally discontinuous to be mapped as sepa- uous beds and lenses of diamicton are fre- rate units, are present on the surfaces of the quently present in the basal 1 metre of the fine-grained glaciolacustrine units. In many in- thicker glaciolacustrine assemblages. stances, washing of the surface of the deposits ~laciolacustrinedeposits more than 3 me- has continued to the present. Pedogenesis and tres thick tend to form hummocb (h), rolling cultivation have probably resulted in the de- (m), or gently undulating (u) expanses with low struction of other thin examples of these fea- relief, often dotted with small hollows where tures. uncultivated. The composition and internal MORAINICUNITS (M) structure of these units is similar to that of the glaciolacustrine blankets and veneers. Much of In this study, sediments mapped and inter- this sediment type is under cultivation in the preted as morainic are diamictons, containing Peace River region, as it forms the most fertile significant quantities of clay, silt, sand, and and potentially productive material for pedo- larger clasts. All of these units were either: genesis and plant growth. deposited directly from glacial ice (true The glaciolacustrine silts and clays were morainic units or tills), or deposited by sediment gravity underflows and were initially deposited from glacial ice but suspension settling. Minor amounts of material were subsequently substantially modified by sediment gravity flow or other mass (including most of the coarse clasts) were de- movement processes prior to the deposi- posited by melting icebergs from the adjacent tion of any overlying glaciolacustrine or

Geological Survey Branch Ministry of Enew, Mines and Petroleum Resources

glaciofluvial sediment, (for example, in The diamictons contain a varied suite of subglacial cavities), or minerals, including quartz, chert, feldspar, cal- were initially deposited from glacial ice but cite, dolomite, biotite, vermiculite, magnetite, were subsequently substantially modified hornblende, garnet, pyroxene, tourmaline, co- by sediment gravity flow or other mass rundum, apatite, titanite, and kyanite. The peb- movement processes in a glaciolacustrine bles and cobbles are dominantly locally derived environment prior to the deposition of shale (from the Shaftesbury and Kaskapau For- finer-textured glaciolacustrine sediments. mations) and sandstone (from the Dunvegan These qualifications allow the morainic Formation), with associated orthoquartzite, units to be treated in terms of their geomorphic chert, limestone (rarely containing fragments expression, texture, and mineralogical compo- of Devonian corals), granites (derived from sition, without requiring differentiation of the both the Canadian Shield and the Omineca precise mode of genesis. Depositional analysis Range), gneiss, gabbro, and diabase. These of the diamicton sediments in the Peace River mineralogical and petrological assemblages in- region, in common with most areas of British dicate that Cordilleran, Montane, and Lauren- Columbia and western Canada, is a complex tide source areas all contributed to the process requiring intensive examination of in- diamicton sediments. The presence of Lauren- dividual outcrops (often with inconclusive re- tide granites and gneisses, and of fossilferous sults). Such intensive sedimentological limestone clasts derived from the Devonian analyses are discussed elsewhere (Bobrowsky strata of northeastern Alberta, indicate that the et al., 1991; Bobrowsky et al., in preparation; diamicton units were deposited at some time Liverman, 1989). after the initial Laurentide advance. These Diamicton units which have undergone any clasts in themselves, however, are not sufficient substantial modification after deposition from evidence to establish that the diamictons were glacial ice cannot be classified as tills, and are deposited by Laurentide glaciers, as they could technically not morainic deposits. The have been transported by ice-rafting in progla- diamicton units in the eastern Peace River re- cia1 lakes and redeposited in nonglacigenic gion have broadly similar physical properties, diamictons, such as subaqueous debris flows. however, regardless of the exact mode of depo- Such units are commonly found associated with sition of each unit. For practicality and ease of proglacial lacustrine sequences. general discussion, therefore, all of the The internal structures within the morainic diamicton units were mapped as morainic units show a wide range of styles. Most of the units, and will be treated collectively in this units are texturally homogeneous, without dis- paper. A more precise analysis of the tinctive lenses or stratification. Some diamictons present at any particular site should diamicton exposures, however, contain small be undertaken prior to construction. sand lenses, generally aligned horizontally or Texturally, the diamictons vary in matrix subhorizontally.Although some of these lenses composition from silty clay to silty sand. Clay contain cross-stratification, lag and shadow content ranges from 5 to 35 per cent, and sand structures, and graded bedding, the majority content varies between 15 to 55 per cent. The are internally structureless. Thin (1 to 2 cm) proportion of large clasts is also variable, planar silt lenses, dipping easterly or northeast- reaching a maximum of 25 per cent. Units with erly at low angles, are rarely present. coarse clast contents of less than 5 per cent At several exposures, the alignment of the were mapped as glaciolacustrine sediments, large pebbles and cobbles was measured, in with the rare coarse clasts interpreted as ice- order to ascertain the direction of sediment rafted pebbles and cobbles. Generally, the transport and to assist in interpretation of the diamictons are dominated by fine-grained ma- genesis of the diamictons. Results from these trices.

Open File 1991-11 7 1 British Colunz bia

clast fabric analyses were extremely variable and small aprons developed at the bases of for the region's diamictons, with vector orien- some escarpments, and valley fill deposits tation strengths varying from almost perfectly along the lesser tributaries. Much alluvial mod- random (principal eigenvalue = 0.36) to well- ification of colluviated deposits has occurred oriented (principal eigenvalue = 0.88). These along the deeper parts of the major rivers in the variations indicate that the sediments mapped region, resulting in the development of com- here as 'morainic' represent many styles and plexly interbedded and washed fluvial/colluvial processes of deposition (Bobrowslq et al., assemblages. 1991). Texturally, the fluvial deposits vary from silt The morainic units generally have rolling and clay to grain-supported coarse gravel. Sand (m) or undulating (u) surfaces. Aprons are and fine gravel units are the most common present surrounding bedrock-cored highs, and types present. The deposits are generally mod- some bedrock highs are blanketed with mo- erately to well-sorted, except where modified rainic diamictons. Slopes vary from gentle (j)to by or interbedded with colluviated materials. moderately steep (k). Rare examples of ori- Clast types present commonly include sand- ented ridges (r) indicating ice flow are present stone, shale, orthoquartzite, chert, carbonates, in the eastern part of the region, and suggest granites, granodiorites, and gneisses, derived Laurentide ice flow from the east-northeast from Laurentide, Cordilleran, and Montane and northeast. sources. The deposits are generally thick along The morainic deposits interpreted as true the major streams, but thin in minor tributary tills found in the Alces River, Shearer Dale, areas. All of the mappable fluvial units were N~rthPine, and the eastern part of the St. John formed post-glacially, as indicated by their map areas were deposited by Laurentide ice, stratigraphic position and by 14c dating moving from the east-northeast and northeast. (Bobrowsky et al., 1991). These units which can be confidently identified The lateral extent, composition, and inter- as undisturbed tills, however, form a small pro- nal structure of the fluvial units is directly re- portion of the total 'morainic' assemblage. lated to the stream type. The largest streams in Most of the diamictons have undergone some the region, the Peace and Pine Rivers, display modification, most commonly by sediment both sandy braided and wandering reaches. gravity flow. The diamicton units in the south- Sedimentation along these streams is western part of the Fort St. John map area characterised by the development of large sand contain very few granitic and gneissic clasts and gravel flats and longitudinal and lateral derived from the Canadian Shield, and some bars. The internal structures of these geomor- are completely devoid of these clasts. These phic features are marked by fining-upward se- units are interpreted as the products of Mon- quences of well-sorted trough cross-stratified tane and Cordilleran glaciation, generally re- gravel and sand, with associated planar tabular worked after initial sedimentation, with some and asymptotic cross-bedding. Imbricated Laurentide clasts added through ice-rafting in gravel sheets are commonly developed on the proglacial lacustrine environments. The sedi- upstream sides of the bars. The large bars and mentology of these deposits, and the strati- flats are commonly capped with medium and graphic implications, are discussed further in fine-grained sand and silt veneers, often rip- Bobrowsky et al. (1991), Liverman (1989), and pled or horizontally laminated, that represent Bobrowsky et al. (in preparation). a combination of low-energy fluvial sedimenta- tion during receding floods and aeolian re- working over the exposed surfaces. Fluvial units include sand and gravel bars Evidence preserved in the sedimentary re- adjacent to the major rivers, minor alluvial fans cord indicates that fluctuations of water levels

Geological Survey Bmclz Ministv of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

in the Peace River were much greater in previ- sonal flooding. The absence of coarser gravel ous times than on today's regulated stream. deposits, or other sediments associated with Evidence of similar fluctuations is present in thalweg channels, indicates that erosion has the sediments found along the Pine River. progressed predominantly by downcutting. Trunk channel (thalweg) deposits, consist- ing of well-sorted sands and gravels, are com- COLLUWALUNITS (C) monly interbedded in the bar and flat Units mapped as colluvial are predomi- sequences, indicating irregular channel switch- nantly diamictons, or poorly-sorted sandy and ing and avulsion. The main channel of the clayey silts. Surface washing, and to a lesser Peace River has migrated as much as 4 extent sorting during colluviation, has resulted kilometres south of its present position along in a concentration of coarser clasts on the sur- the reach southwest of Fort St. John (Seyers faces of many colluvial units. The colluvial units and Buchanan, 1990). are thus generally coarser than the morainic Pre-existing river channel positions are also diamictons. The colluvial sediment is derived indicated by the larger gravel and sand deposits from a number of sources, but most deposits in the Taylor area, many of which have been or incorporate morainic, glaciolacustrine, and are being actively exploited as aggregate bedrock material. Many are interbedded with sources. These sequences represent lateral and alluvial deposits, and have undergone surface longitudinal bars formed in the earliest post- washing. The geomorphic expression of these glacial stage of the Peace River. A 14cdate units is somewhat variable, but most are obtained from a Bison sp. bone dates this event roughly undulating or hummocky, with steep or at 10 2402160 years B.P. (AECV - 1206C). moderately steep slopes. Isolated depressions, This date has necessitated revision of the orig- ridges, and upthrown blocks of sediment are inally assigned mid-Wisconsinan age for some common. of the gravels in the Taylor area (Mathews, Colluviation in the Peace River region oc- 1978). The geomorphic evidence, coupled with curs in several dynamic styles. Rotational slides ongoing stratigraphic and chronologic investi- (slumps) are commonly the first stage in an gations, indicates that all of the gravels in the actively failing area. Failure involves motion of Taylor area are post-glacial deposits a cohesive block of material as a unit, without (Bobrowsky et al., 1991; Bobrowsky et al., in internal deformation. In the Peace River re- preparation). gion, these blocks may be several tens of metres The other major streams in the region, the thick and several hundreds of square metres in Kiskatinaw, Moberly, Beatton, and Alces Riv- area. Although failure surfaces can occur in ers, are all meandering systems which have glaciolacustrine strata, the failure plane is most become ingrown as a result of downcutting commonly situated within the bedrock. This is induced by falls in level of the Peace River. This especially true where shale units are involved. downcutting has recently accelerated due to Slumping is generally followed by internal the regulation of the Peace, and will probably deformation of the weakened material, gener- become more pronounced in the Beatton, ation of flows from the toe of the slump block, Alces, and Kiskatinaw valleys if the Peace and flow of material in the exposed headwall of River is further dammed at Site C. Sediments the block. These debris flows are generally lat- are deposited along these streams as point bars, erally extensive, and result in considerable consisting of cross-strata successively fining up- modification of the original slump block topog- wards from coarse to medium sand, to fine sand raphy, usually to the point of completely ob- and silt, and finally to silt and clay. The gently scuring the original morphology. Along river dipping cross-beds were deposited during suc- valleys where material is constantly removed cessive falling water stages associated with sea- from the toes by fluvial erosion, flow from the

Open File 1991- 11 9 British Columbia toe continues essentially constantly (although composition of these deposits has not pro- the rates vary widely throughout a year and gressed to a large degree (1to 4 on the Von Post between years), and thus slope failure by debris scale, as used by the Canadian Soil Survey flow results in essentially continuous modifica- Committee), and many of the fibric layers are tion of the terrain. This situation exists along all essentially unaltered plant debris. Local detri- of the major tributaries to the Peace River tal transport of plant debris and small amounts (especially along the Beatton and Kiskatinaw of clay and silt has affected some fenlands, Rivers), and debris flow colluvial deposits thus especially those adjacent to standing bodies of form a large proportion of the margins of these water or streams. streams. Along the Peace River, removal of Mesic (u) deposits are rarely encountered material from the toes is often not as rapid, as surface features, but underlie approximately because many of the deposits terminate at 10 per cent of the fibric units. These units dis- abandoned or seldom-occupied channels along play an intermediate degree of decomposition the margins of the braided and wandering (5 to 6 on the Von Post scale). Mesic horizons stream reaches. In these areas, preservation of which underlie fibric Carex horizons are com- the original slump morphology is more likely, posed of decomposed Carew fragments. In con- although modification from debris flows in- trast, some surficial mesic units are dominated duced from above the slump blocks is very by remains of Sphagnum moss, such as the unit extensive. exposed in the northeastern part of the North Mass movements in the region can be in- Pine map area at UTM 508619. This exposure duced by fluvial undercutting, natural over- represents the thickest mesic deposit observed loading of the slopes (eg. by debris flow from in the region, with a total depth of 120 cen- above), loss of internal cohesion due to sudden timetres of Sphagnum peat, and has a surface saturation (as was common during June 1990), area of approximately 0.07 square kilometre. or by human activity. Evidence of past colluvia- Humic units (those with Von Post decom- tion in the region is extensive (Bobrowsky et aL, position values of 7 or greater) are not exposed 1991), and extreme caution is required in any on the surface within the region. Thin humic effort to exploit or utilize river valley slopes. horizons were rarely encountered at the bases of mesic Sphagnum successions, but many of these horizons also contained substantial quan- Organic units are defined as those com- tities of silt and clay. The thickest humic hori- posed largely of organic materials resulting zon measured, at UTM 508619 in the North from the accumulation of plant material, con- Pine map area, was 10 centimetres. taining at least 30 per cent organic material by weight (Howes and Kenk, 1988). They are as- GLACIOFLUVIALUNITS (FG) sociated with fens and bogs developed above Units mapped as glaciofluvial are associ- relatively impermeable glaciolacustrine, lacus- ated with morainic or glaciolacustrine deposits, trine, and morainic materials. The surfaces of are isolated from the major river systems, and the units are generally level, forming veneers form undulating, elongate ridges. The major (v), blankets (b), and plains (p). area of occurrence in the eastern Peace River The organic deposits are classified accord- region is a northwest trending belt of isolated, ing to the system of the Canadian Soil Survey undulating mounds 15 to 30 metres high, lo- Committee (1978). Fibric (f) deposits are the cated west and southwest of Fort St. John in the most common surface forms. Many of these North Pine and Fort St. John map areas. deposits are associated with standing or sea- The glaciofluvial deposits are well-sorted sonal water in sedge (Carew) fenlands, and are sands and granule, pebble, and cobble gravels. composed dominantly of Carer fragments. De- Clast assemblages are dominated by feld-

10 Geological Smey Brunch Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleunt Resources spathic sandstone and orthoquartzite, with less, and lack large clasts and associated lesser amounts of limestone, granite (predom- diamicton beds. Their surface expression gen- inantly from Canadian Shield sources, al- erally takes the form of a veneer or blanket over though some clasts derived from the Omineca underlying glaciolacustrine silts and clays, or Range are also present), gneiss, and minor (for thicker deposits) as small, featureless amounts of chert. The mineralogy of the units plains. The sediments commonly border exist- indicates that material from Laurentide, Cor- ing or ephemeral ponds and sloughs. dilleran, and Montane sources has been incor- porated in the deposits. These deposits are currently being exploited as sources of aggre- Eolian units are uncommon in the eastern gate. Peace River region. Although thin veneers of Sedimentary structures within the eolian silt and silty sand loess rarely occur as glaciofluvial units, and their relationship with caps over glaciolacustrine, morainic, and flu- the adjacent glacigenic sediments, suggest that vial sediments, these deposits are too thin and the deposits formed predominantly as fans, limited in areal extent to be mappable. The fan-deltas, and aprons developed along the loess veneers do not have a distinctive geomor- margins of retreating Laurentide ice, rather phic expression. than as subglacial esker segments. Flow indica- Veneers of eolian sand are present in the tors, such as cross-stratification and clast im- northeastern part of the North Pine map area. brication, measured in active aggregate pits in These units consist of thin, structureless, me- the Grand Haven - Fort St. John area vary in dium to fine-grained, well to moderately- direction but are dominantly indicative of sorted sand, generally overlying undulating southwestern and southeastern flow. These di- glaciolacustrine and/or morainic deposits. rections are normal and parallel to the postu- Small mounds, which represent incipient, lated ice front in the area. poorly-developed, or highly modified dome dunes are present in some areas, but generally LACUSTRINEUNITS (L) are too small to be confidently recognized on Units mapped as lacustrine were deposited aerial photographs. The few cross-strata pre- in shallow lakes not developed as a result of served on the flanks of these dome dunes sug- glaciation. These sediments thus represent sus- gest westerly wind activity, but the number and pension settling and minor underflow deposits degree of preservation of cross-strata is not that were exposed when small lakes partially or sufficient to permit regional conclusions to be totally dissipated. The lacustrine units are of formulated. The deposits are too thin and fine very limited areal extent. grained to be suitable as sand aggregate These units are composed of silt and silty sources. clay, either horizontally laminated or structure-

Open File 1991-11 11 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleunz Resorrrces

RESOURCES

AGGREGATE RESOURCES by shaly strata (Shaftesbury and Kaskapau For- Units currently exploited for sand and/or mations). Sandy beds within the Dunvegan gravel include those mapped as fluvial (terrace Formation could possibly be used as aggregate deposits along the Peace River), and sources, but contain substantial amounts of silt glaciofluvial (in the unit sporadically exposed and clay and are poorly consolidated. In addi- in the Grand Haven - Fort St. John area). The tion, these beds contain chert and bentonite, lateral extents of both of these unit types are both of which are unsuitable for aggregate. well known locally, and extraction of material Aggregate resources in the region, there- from the deposits has been conducted for sev- fore, are somewhat limited. At present, local eral years (Hora, 1988). Additional aggregate demand for aggregate is met by exploitation of extraction operations could be developed in the glaciofluvial and elevated fluvial deposits in currently unexploited parts of these units. the vicinity of Fort St. John and Taylor. Few potential new sources of aggregate PEAT RESOURCES are present in the region. No mappable depos- its of unexploited gravel units were observed. In a preliminary assessment, Maynard The rare examples of sand-dominated (1988) rated the eastern Peace River region as glaciolacustrine sediments and eolian deposits having a relatively low potential as a peat are too thin, limited in areal extent, and in many resource area. This assessment has been largely instances too poorly sorted to be satisfactory as confirmed by field study. The majority of the sources of sandy aggregate. The low concentra- organic deposits in the region are fibric units tion of pebbles and larger clasts in the morainic dominated by Carex fragments, associated with diamicton deposits limits their utility as aggre- fenlands. These units are unsuitable for use in gate sources. Extensive processing would be agricultural applications. required to isolate the 5 to 25 per cent gravel Mesic Sphagnum peat deposits are present fraction from the silt and clay matrix. Some at scattered localities, most notably in the diamicton deposits observed contained chert eastern part of the North Pine map area, but clasts, which could prove unsuitable in some these deposits are small and thin. The esti- aggregate applications. mated total volume of the largest deposit is Bedrock exposures are present along the approximately 60 000 cubic metres, which lim- major river valleys, although they are com- its its use. Preliminary investigations suggest monly obscured by colluvium. The majority of the the map areas north and northwest of the the bedrock in the region is unsuitable for ag- study region may contain larger, more eco- gregate production, however, as it is dominated nomic peat deposits.

Open File 1991-11 13 Miizistry of Eitergy, Miires arzd Petroleum Resources

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

Planning for construction, hydroelectric to failure if disturbed by any form of construc- development, and waste disposal in the eastern tion. The morainic units (M), characterized by Peace River region will require a knowledge of silty and clayey matrices and low concentra- the engineering geological properties and po- tions of coarse clasts, are subject to failure in tential environmental geological hazards asso- areas where they crop out along river valleys or ciated with the Quaternary deposits. Although at the crests of slopes. These diamictons do not the Quaternary stratigraphy throughout most differ greatly in stability from the glaciolacustr- of the region is relatively simple, complex sed- ine silt and clay units (LG), and failures of both imentological successions are present within sediment types are common. Large-scale fail- stratigraphic and geomorphologic units at ures in fluvial deposits (F) are relatively rare, many localities. In addition, successions found due to the coarse texture of most fluvial units. in areas subject to colluviation are commonly Small grain flow failures are common, how- stratigraphically and geomorphologically com- ever, where the sediment is subject to fluvial plex. The major environmental and engineer- undercutting or where colluviation of adjacent ing geological concerns in the region centre units has left fluvial sediments without lateral around slope stability and waste disposal. support. Many slope failure planes are devel- oped in the underlying shale bedrock, and thus SLOPE STABILITY any overlying surficial unit can undergo failure Slope failure is ubiquitous along all of the if the bedrock loses lateral support due to flu- major streams in the region. The extent of col- vial downcutting. luvial deposits formed by rotational slides Thus, all of the major terrain units present (slumps) and flows indicates that all of the river in the eastern Peace River region are subject to banks should be regarded as potentially unsta- slope failure. Extreme caution should there- ble. Sedimentological and chronological inves- fore be observed in any effort to exploit or tigations have indicated that mass movements utilize river valley slopes. have occurred regularly since deglaciation (Bobrowsky et al., 1991). During the 1990 field WASTE DISPOSAL season, many active examples of both styles of In order for a sedimentary unit to be suit- mass movements induced by fluvial undercut- able for the disposal of liquid waste, it must be ting, overloading of the slopes, and loss of in- relatively impermeable and isolated from the ternal cohesion due to sudden saturation were regional groundwater system, as well as not observed. Failures along the north side of the subject to slope failure. In areas removed from Peace River valley have necessitated the peri- the major river valleys, both glaciolacustrine, odic repair and relocation of several parts of silt and clay units and morainic diamicton units Highway 29, and other damage to roadways is with fine-textured matrices are potentially suit- evident along the Kiskatinaw, Beatton, and able for waste disposal. Many of these deposits, Pine Rivers, and along other tributary streams. however, contain sand lenses which are perme- The units mapped as colluvium (C) should able. Thus, extensive site investigation must be be regarded as potentially unstable, and subject undertaken prior to designation of any waste

-- Open File 1991-11 15 British Columbia disposal site. Units mapped as veneers (v) or ardous solid waste, but the waste must be iso- blankets (b) are unsuitable for waste disposal lated from the groundwater system and from sites, because their thinness precludes isolation other sources of water, including precipitation. of the excavation floor from the underlying The difficulties in ensuring that no waste sedimentary unit and from the groundwater reaches the groundwater table from such sites system. are extensive. The abundance of suitable silt Coarse-textured morainic, fluvial, and and clay deposits throughout the eastern Peace glaciofluvial units are unsuitable as liquid River region, combined with the scarcity of waste repositories, because their texture allows coarse-textured deposits and their consequent rapid percolation of the waste into the ground- value as sources of aggregate, indicates that water system. These deposits may be suitable waste disposal sites should be located in the for the disposal of small quantities of non-haz- fine-textured units.

16 Geological Survey Brunch Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

Sediments exposed in the eastern Peace Valley slopes throughout the region are River region consist dominantly of fine- subject to slope failure and colluviation, and grained glaciolacustrine deposits and morainic development of these sites should be mini- silty and clayey diamictons. Fluvial and collu- mized. Liquid and solid waste disposal sites vial deposits are present along the Peace River should be located in thick fine-textured and its major tributaries. Organic deposits con- glaciolacustrine and morainic units, but only sist mainly of fibric units derived from Careu, after sedimentological investigation. with lesser amounts of mesic Sphagnum depos- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS its. Glaciofluvial sands and gravels, lacustrine silts, and eolian sands are present in minor This research was supported by a British amounts in isolated areas. Columbia Geoscience Research Grant. I am Aggregate exploitation in the region is con- indebted to Dr. P.T. Bobrowsky and V.M. Lev- fined to the glaciofluvial deposits, and to ter- son of the Surficial Geology Unit, British Co- races of coarse fluvial sediments along the lumbia Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Peace River. No new, readily accessible Petroleum Resources, for extensive discussions sources of aggregate were noted. Peat re- of Peace River geology. G. Bradbury provided sources in the region are also limited, and eco- capable assistance in the field. nomic exploitation is not feasible at present.

Open File 1991-11 17 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleunt Resources

REFERENCES

Bobrowsky, P.T. (1989): Late Cenozoic Geol- unpublished Ph.D. thesis; University of Al- ogy of the Northern Rocky Mountain berta, Edmonton, Alberta, 216 pages. Trench, British Columbia; unpublished Liverman, D.G.E. (in press): Sedimentology of Ph.D. thesis, University ofAlberta, Edmon- Glaciolacustrine Deposits, Grande Prai- ton, Alberta, 463 pages. rie, Alberta; Boreas. Bobrowsky, FT, Catto, N.R. and Levson, V. Mathews, W.H. (1978): Quaternary Stratigra- (1991): Reconnaissance Quaternary Geo- phy and Geomorphology of Charlie Lake logical Investigations in Peace River Dis- (94A) Map-area, British Columbia; Geolo- trict, British Columbia (93e 94A); B.C. gical Survey of Canada, Paper 76-20, 25 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum pages. Resources, Geological Fieldwork 1990, Mathews, W.H. (1980): Retreat of the Last Ice Paper 1991-1, pages 345-358. Sheets in Northeastern British Columbia Bobrowsky, P.T., Catto, N.R., Liverman, and Adjacent Alberta; Geological Survey of

D.G.E. and Rutter, N.W. (in preparation): Canada, Bulletin 331,22 -pages. - Laurentide, Cordilleran, and Montane Mathews, W.H. (1986): Physiographic Map of Glaciers in the Peace River - Grande the Canadian Cordillera; Geological Sur- Prairie Region, Alberta and British Co- vey of Canada, Map 1701 A. lumbia. Maynard, D.E. (1988): Peatland Inventory of Canada Soil Survey Committee (1978): The British Columbia; B.C. Ministry of Energy, Canadian System of Soil Classification; Mines and Petroleum Resources, Open File Canada Department of Agriculture, Publi- 1988-33,73 pages. cation 1646; Supply and Services Canada, Rowe, J.S. (1972): Forest Regions of Canada; Ottawa, 164 pages. Deparfment of the Environment, Canada; Environment Canada (1984): Canadian Cli- Canadian Forestry Service Publication matic Normals, 1951-1980; Environment 1300,172 pages. Canada, Ottawa. Seyers, W. and Buchanan, P. (1990): Assess- Hora, Z.D. (1988): Sand and Gravel Study ment of Upper Left Bank Overburden De- 1985; B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and posits - Task C9B-B03D, Peace River Site Petroleum Resources, Open File 1988-27, C; Klohn-Crippen Consultants, Ltd., Re- 41 pages. port KC53. Howes, D.E. and Kenk, E. (1988): Terrain Clas- Stott, D.F. (1975): The Cretaceous System in sification System for British Columbia Northeastern British Columbia, in The (Revised Edition); B.C. Ministry of Envi- Cretaceous System in the Western Interior ronment, Manual 10,90 pages. of North America, W.G.E. Caldwell, Edi- Liverman, D.G.E. (1989): The Quaternary Ge- t or ; Geological Association of Canada, ology of the Grande Prairie Area, Alberta, Special Paper 13, pages 441-467.

Open File 1991-11 19 tI••• for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow...11

Treaty No.8

DECLARATION on this 1th day of September 2010

of the Doig River First Nation Halfway River First Nation Prophet River First Nation West Moberly First Nations

Concerning the Proposed Site C Dam on the Peace River, British Columbia

WQchiigfi Yededze? Dane Godineh Ya t'a doh aah? kaa

WHEREAS we, the Dunne Zaa/Oane ?;aa people of the Doig River First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations are the original indigenous Nations of northern British Columbia who have a unique historical, spiritual and cultural link to the land:

• We have occupied the Peace River Valley and its tributaries, the Athabasca and Mackenzie watershed region since time immemorial; and continue to occupy this land;

• Our ancient, sacred sites and graves of our ancestors are found throughout the Peace River Valley and its tributaries;

AND WHEREAS we have inherent, constitutional rights to continue our way of life in the Peace River region:

• We are signatories to Treaty No. 8, a peace and friendship Treaty between the Crown and each of the signatory First Nations.

• We are stewards of the land, who face industrial devastation to the land; and

• In Treaty No. 8, the Crown and First Nations agreed that the First Nation signatories "have the right to continue with our way of life for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow" without forced interference as though never entered the treaty; and

The rights provided for in are constitutionally recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

AND WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia proposes to construct and operate a major hydroelectric dam project (the "Site C Dam") on the Peace River that eliminates our ability to continue our way of life and exercise our Treaty-protected constitutional rights to hunt, trap, fish, harvesting and carry out traditional practices on the land. Construction and operation of the proposed Site C dam will, among other things, have direct and cumulative impacts that (but not limited to):

1

FIRST NA TlONS DECLARA TlON CONCERNING THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM It••• for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow... JJ

Treaty No.8

• Disrespect and destroy the graves of our ancestors

• Eliminate critical warm lowlands where both predators and prey survive harsh northern winters;

• Demolishes habitat and disrupts migration routes for bull trout and other fish species at the top of the Peace River aquatic food chain and cause them to become contaminated with mercury that poisons the traditional foods of First Nations, as happened already behind the Bennett Dam already impacting our homeland;

• Annihilate the islands in the Peace where cow moose deliver their calves Submerge key ungulate calving grounds for moose, mule deer, and elk;

• Eliminate regionally rare and important ecosystems, including old growth deciduous and mixed wood forest of the Peace, Halfway, and Moberly Rivers, riparian forests important to furbearers, habitat for red and blue listed neo-tropical migrant birds, and traditional and medicinal rare plant communities;

• Destroy more than 7000 acres of class one and class two farmland and along with it the opportunity for food security in northeast BC and other lands eliminated by erosion;

• Together with the reservoirs created by the two existing dams, create a cumulative barrier to fish and wildlife, especially grizzly bear, movement at the narrowest waist of the continentally important Yellowstone to Yukon wildlife corridor;

• Exacerbate the negative environmental impacts caused by the first two upstream Peace River dams to the Peace-Athabasca delta and other wetlands down the Peace, Athabasca and Mackenzie river watersheds through Alberta and the Northwest Territory all the way to the Arctic Ocean;

• Add 147,000 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as a result of this dam project which this government has dared call green and clean; and

• Eliminates the very land upon which our people hold annual cultural camps to maintain the heritage of our relationship between our Elders, our youth and the land that is our duty to pass on to future generations in a healthy vibrant state.

AND WHEREAS the proposed Site C Dam will have harmful environmental effects that will impact on First Nations, and all residents in the Peace River region or downstream;

AND WHEREAS it is in the interests of all British Columbians that the Peace River and its tributaries be preserved for future ~enerations;

AND WHEREAS We, the Chiefs 6~rthefour First Nations, gathered with affected First Nations located downstream of the proposed Site C Dam, along with several environmental organizations and concerned residents of the Peace Region, at a Summit on September 16 and 17 in Fort St John, British Columbia; 2

FIRST NATIONS DECLARATION CONCERNING THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM "...for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow ..."

Treaty No.S

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CHIEFS AND SUPPORTERS, ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE FIRST NATIONS, CALL UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO HAS A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO ALL THE FIRST NATIONS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD THEIR INHERENT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND WAY OF LIFE;

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CHIEFS AND SUPPORTERS, ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE FIRST NATIONS, CALL UPON THE PREMIER AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA TO:

• Support and adequately fund a full, independent comprehensive cumulative assessment with a pre-industrial baseline of the proposed Site C Dam on the Peace River region and the Athabasca and MacKenzie Delta, including a full environmental and cultural, assessment of the impacts of the two previously constructed upstream dams, and how and will continue to impact and affect will affect the Treaty rights and interests of the First Nations;

• Support and adequately fund a full, independent study of a" viable alternative options for the production of electricity for the Province's needs;

• Halt any and a" efforts of the proposed project until the completion of these full, independent studies;

• Re-instate the authority of the BC Utilities Commission to examine the true economic impacts to the people of British Columbia of constructing the Site C Dam; and

• To allow formal participation by First Nations in the decision making process concerning the proposed Site C Dam and to agree that where no agreement can be reached on the proposed Site C Dam to agree to appoint together with First Nations an impartial decision maker.

AND, FURTHERMORE, IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPACT THAT THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM WILL HAVE ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR ABILITY TO EXERCISE OUR TREATY RIGHTS,

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CHIEFS AND SUPPORTERS, ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE FIRST NATIONS, DECLARE THAT:

• We are opposed to the proposed Site C Dam;

• We vow to use a" lawful ru.,-~..,.ans to stop the Site C Dam from proceeding; and

• We assert that the proposed Site C Dam is not "green or clean."

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FIRST NA T/ONS DECLARA T/ON CONCERNING THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM . . u •••for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow ...tr

Treaty No.S

SIGNATORIES:

Chief Norman Davis, Ooig River First Nation

Chief Roland Willson, West Moberly First Nations

FIRST NATIONS JOINEp-IN OPPOSING SITE C.

ef Derek Orr, CHIEF : McLeod Lake Indian Band

TREATY 8 CHIEFS F"ROMALBERTA:

. VERBAL ASSENT" Danny Bellerose, PROXY Driftpile First Nation

VERBAL ASSENT Matthew Willier, PROXY " Sucker Creek First Nation

Lean Chalifoux, CHH~"'F Swan River Ffrst Nation

VERBAL ASSENT Gus Loonskin, Chief " Little Red RiverCree Nation

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FIRST NATIONS DECLARATION CONCERNING THEPROPOSEDSITE C DAM "...for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers. flow ... n

Treaty No.S

VERBAL ASSENT Don Testawlch, CHIEF Du~ncans~i~rstN~tion

" ~. . . Dilbert Salopree, PROXY Tha' First Nation

VERBAL ASSENT .Rupert Meneen, 'CHIEF Tall First Nation

VERBAL ASSENT Vyola Goodswimmer, PROXY Sturgeon Lake Cree First Nation

THE FOLLOWING FIRST NATIONS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS DECLARATION: " . "

VERBAL ASSENT Sam Gargan, GRAND CHIEF ·O\o\f~ Jame~Marlowe, PROXY . Cuts lk'e Dene First Nation

, . ~. d 4' /'L ..,~. ./..,~~. ,"- c· NUn! SanspaQ~r. PROXY Yellowknives Dene First Nation

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FIRST NATIONS DECLARA TlON CONCERNING THE PROPOSED SITE C DAM