“A worse location is unlikely”

In Live Action Alerts by steelheaders

 

A proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal at the mouth of BC’s Skeena River threatens its legendary wild salmon and steelhead runs.

 

John's Morice Buck

photo: Dave Groff

When you’re talking about the finest wild steelhead rivers in North America—heck, in the world—a few names come immediately to mind. The Smith. The Dean. The Rogue.

And certainly the Skeena.

The Skeena, British Columbia’s second longest river, is one of the world’s largest remaining intact ecosystems for wild salmon and steelhead. It provides incredible angling for some of the biggest, baddest steelhead on the planet.

 

But a proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal at the mouth of the river could change all that.

Lelu Island and Flora Bank at the mouth of the Skeena provide critical habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead. This habitat is so important that 135 leading scientists have signed a letter to Canada’s Environment Minister stating that the environmental impacts assessment for the project “is scientifically flawed and represents an insufficient base for decision making.”

DG on Bulkley

photo: Dave Groff

 

Among the steelhead and salmon experts who have co-signed the letter are John McMillan, Steelhead Director for Trout Unlimited’s Wild Steelhead Initiative; Amy Haak, TU’s Conservation Biologist; and Jack Williams, TU’s Senior Scientist.

You can help protect the Skeena—one of the world’s best salmon and steelhead strongholds—and its amazing angling opportunities by taking a moment to tell Canada’s Environment Minister that the risks posed by the LNG project to the Skeena’s fisheries are just too great.

The public comment period ends Friday, March 11, so send your comments now. Future generations of steelhead anglers will thank you.