News

February 22 2008 » Media Releases

Coalbed Methane: Sacred Headwaters Deserves the Flathead Treatment


British Columbia's Sacred Headwaters, shared birthplace of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers (Brian Huntington photo).

February 22, 2008 (Smithers, BC) The BC government should make northern BC’s Sacred Headwaters off limits to coalbed methane, just as it has done for the Flathead Valley, says a northwest conservation group.

Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition and an alliance of regional, national and international groups have been working to stop Royal Dutch Shell from proceeding with coalbed methane development in the Sacred Headwaters, the shared birthplace of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers.

“We’re talking about a very risky resource development right at the source of three of Canada’s most important wild salmon rivers,” said Shannon McPhail, Executive Director of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition. “If there are ecologically important areas that should be off limits to coalbed methane, this is one of them.”

A 2005 report by IBM Business Consulting estimates Skeena wild salmon contribute $110 million annually to the regional economy. The Stikine and Nass also support important salmon fisheries. The Sacred Headwaters is home to robust populations of caribou, grizzly bears, stone sheep and wolves.

“The economy, identity, and lifestyle of the entire Northwest is tied to the health of these three watersheds,” said McPhail. “Coalbed methane threatens all of this, while giving virtually nothing back to the people who live here.”

Shell drilled three exploration wells at the headwaters of the Stikine River in 2004. It has permits to drill an additional 14 wells, 11 of which are at the headwaters of the Skeena River.

“We commend the BC government for its Flathead decision, and look forward to speaking with ministry representatives regarding the future of the Sacred Headwaters,” said McPhail.

The Sacred Headwaters is located 300 kilometers north of Smithers, BC.

For more information, please contact:

Shannon McPhail: (250) 842-2494; cell: (250) 842-8738
Or visit: www.skeenawatershed.com
Digital photos available by request

Back to news index