S. Thompson River in peril

Photo: Contributed - ourbc.com

The Outdoor Recreation Council has released its annual list of B.C.'s most endangered rivers, and this year the South Thompson is on it.

Compiled since 1993 by the 100,000-member ORC and based on public input, the report details the province’s most imperiled rivers by region, including the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior and North.

The Fraser and Seymour rivers were listed as the most endangered in the province, with the Cowichan, Peace, Thompson and Skeena rivers along with Shawnigan Creek also making the list that is compiled every second year.

According to the report, a major reason the Thompson River is considered endangered centres on the state of the river’s internationally renowned steelhead run. These fish are considered “an extreme conservation concern” and their precarious state highlights the need for a more precautionary and selective approach to the overall salmon fishery.

The Thompson steelhead run, which now numbers just over 400 fish, requires dramatic action including the development of a comprehensive recovery program. In addition, water licences and water extraction rates on various tributaries must be more closely monitored to ensure adequate flows remain for fish. There are also increasing concerns being expressed about industrial development proposals such as the Ajax mine in Kamloops.

According to the ORC website, “The preparation of this list is the most comprehensive initiative of its kind in Canada. It attempts to provide a snapshot of the issues that face our rivers and those facing the greatest threat to their ecological health.”