Cheslatta Carrier Nation
P.O. Box 909
Burns Lake, B.C. V0J 1E0
phone: (604) 694-3334
fax: (604) 694-3632
NECHAKO STILL DYING; K2 FLOWS MUST BE REDUCED
Memorandum to: file
By: Dana Wagg
Writer / Researcher
Cheslatta Carrier Nation
Date: Monday, 30 Jan. 1995
# of pages: One
While some people have broken open champagne to celebrate the
scrapping of Kemano 2 by Premier Mike Harcourt, the Nechako River
is still reeling from the effects of Kemano 2, let alone the
effects of Kemano 1. The Nechako's future remains in doubt. Its
future depends on actions yet to be taken by B.C., Canada and
Alcan.
If the Harcourt announcement is to be meaningful, then
Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin will have to tear up the 1987 Kemano
Settlement Agreement. And B.C. and Canada will have to pass
legislation to ensure Alcan is rolled back to Kemano 1 flows. And
Alcan has agree not to challenge the legislation. So, there quite
a few more bridges to be crossed before we can be sure the Nechako
is actually saved.
This is the bottom line:
* Kemano 1 allowed Alcan to take 34 per cent of the water from
the Upper Nechako,
* Alcan has been allowed to take 76 per cent of the Upper
Nechako since April 1, 1988, because of the Kemano Settlement
Agreement. This is known as the short-term flows. Until
Ottawa and B.C. agree on an approach to Kemano 2, Alcan is
likely to continue to take 76 per cent of the water from the
Upper Nechako.
These flows have been rejected by Premier Harcourt and by
federal scientists like Dr. Harold Mundie and must be reversed.
Dr. Mundie concluded in a landmark study that rivers start running
into problems when more than 30 per cent of the water is taken.
Currently a lot more water than that is being taken. That
situation must be reversed.