Sacred Headwaters Campaign - IN PROGRESS
The Sacred Headwaters is a vast alpine basin in northern British Columbia, where three of Canada’s greatest wild salmon rivers — the Skeena, Nass and Stikine — all begin their journeys to the Pacific Ocean. Here, adjacent to the renowned Spatsizi wilderness, grizzly bears, stone sheep and Osbourn caribou exist in large numbers and wild salmon return each year to spawn.
Check out our Photo gallery of the Sacred Headwaters
Where things are at:
There is currently a 2 year moratorium on coalbed methane development in the Sacred Headwaters imposed by the BC Government. We have less than 1 year remaining! Royal Dutch Shell’s subsidiary, Shell Canada, have not changed their intent for a fully industrialized coalbed methane project in the Sacred Headwaters.
With its rich wildlife populations, the Sacred Headwaters is an important cultural site for the local Tahltan First Nation who hunt and trap in the Headwaters each year. It also supports a regional guide outfitting industry.
Shell’s plan for coalbed methane extraction
The Sacred Headwaters is also rich in mineral and energy resources, including coal and coalbed methane — gas trapped in coal deposits. Royal Dutch Shell, through its subsidiary Shell Canada Energy, wants to turn the Sacred Headwaters into a coalbed methane gas field. If this plan goes ahead, the rich alpine ecosystem will be converted to an industrial landscape, with thousands of gas wells connected to a maze of pipelines and roads.
A risky kind of development
Coalbed methane development has caused serious damage where it has been carried out in places such as Wyoming, Montana and more recently, Alberta.
Because coalbed methane is a low pressure resource, it requires a higher density of wells than conventional gas development, which results in significant landscape fragmentation. In British Columbia, there are no well density limits for coalbed methane.
In addition to its footprint on the land, coalbed methane development has serious implications for groundwater and surface water, such as streams and rivers. Most coalbed methane deposits have water associated with them, and this water (called “produced water” by the industry) must be pumped to the surface and disposed of before the gas can be extracted. Removing large volumes of water from underground aquifers can result in lower water levels in streams and rivers. Also, coalbed methane wastewater is usually high in salts and often contains heavy metals, making its disposal difficult. Although the BC government and Shell have said they will re-inject this wastewater into deep underground aquifers, this process is largely untested and carries significant risks.
Coalbed methane and jobs
Unlike other industries such as mining, coalbed methane developments do not result in significant local employment after their construction phase.
Coalbed methane and salmon
Coalbed methane has never been done in a wild salmon bearing watershed. Our wild salmon should not be used as lab rats for private interests.
Coalbed methane and communities of the Sacred Headwaters
There is currently unanimous opposition from regional & municipal levels of government, the communities and First Nations strongly oppose this project in our Sacred Headwaters. As a result, the Provincial government has issued a 2 year moratorium! It’s a very good step by Gordon Campbell and he has certainly made the right decision. We hope he will continue on this path and permanently ban coalbed methane development in the birthplace of our Stikine, Skeena and Nass rivers – FOREVER!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1.) Sign the online petition
2.) Call or write Premier Gordon Campbell or Royal Dutch Shell’s Head office in Calgary
3.) Gather signatures: Post our online petition on your website or in your place of business (we’re happy to send you some templates)
4.) Join Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition
5.) Become a volunteer
6.) Join our Facebook group.
