Hands off our water

An open letter to the residents of Peachland and Michael Carr of Bitterroot Resources.

As a purveyor of water in the Trepanier watershed for over three decades, I was appalled to receive your notice of intent to explore for precious minerals in our watershed.

The area in question lies directly above both of Peachland’s' water intakes. The threat of mineral exploration and mining poses a direct threat to our most valuable resources. We are still experiencing the after-effects of Brenda Mines activities as well as more recent disturbances on the site that have damaged our infrastructure and water quality.   

The possibility of this exploration will add another level of pressure to an already over threatened, precarious, critical watershed. Along with the unknowns of climate change, bug kill and wildfire, these areas cannot indefinitely sustain more mining, logging and road building.

Exploration and development bring with them the potential to unearth and release uranium and other toxic materials into our water supply no matter how careful the operators claim to be. In 2018, we should know better than to risk further damage to an already compromised and highly sensitive ecosystem.

I hope you will reconsider your decision to explore for precious metals in this watershed.

Joe Klein, Peachland