Big trouble at Wood Buffalo
Study finds vast delta now short of water
An exhaustive federal study of Canada’s largest national park concludes that almost every aspect of its environment is deteriorating.
The 561-page report on Wood Buffalo National Park says industry, dams, climate change and natural cycles are sucking the watery lifeblood from the vast delta of northeastern Alberta’s Peace and Athabasca rivers.
It was prepared after concerns were raised over the park’s UNESCO World Heritage status and backs most of them up.
“The (Peace-Athabasca Delta) depends on recharge of its lakes and basins in order to retain its world heritage value,” concludes the study. “Currently, hydrologic recharge … is decreasing. Without immediate intervention, this trend will likely continue.”
The study looked at 17 measures of environmental health, from river flows to Indigenous use. It concludes 15 are declining.
Drawing on decades of research, the study is likely the most complete assessment on the region downstream of Canada’s largest energy developments and one of its biggest hydro dams.
“There’s literally hundreds of different studies going on with regard to the park or the oilsands or B.C. Hydro,” said Don Gorber, the consultant who led the effort for Environment and Climate Change Canada. “All these things are going on independently. No one had put it all together.”
Gorber found major changes in the park. Behind them all is water — or its lack.
Peace River flows have fallen nine per cent since the Bennett Dam was built in British Columbia. Flows from the Athabasca have declined 26 per cent. Ice jams that once flooded wetlands no longer occur.
As a result, bison habitat is shrinking. Invasive species are replacing native vegetation. Migratory birds are starting to avoid areas where they once flocked.
Indigenous people who depend on boats to get to many parts of their traditional territory have lost access. Trappers who used to bring in hundreds of muskrats a season now say the water-loving rodents are gone.
Lower water levels are concentrating chemicals similar to those produced in the oilsands. Heavy metals and toxic hydrocarbons are showing up in bird eggs. Mercury levels in minnows are rising.
We told you so, said Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree. “It confirms a lot of these threats, the concerns, that are causing the challenges in the delta,” she said.
Gorber is cautious about assigning blame. Wildfires can create many of the same chemicals as an oilsands plant, he said. “I don’t think we have enough studies to pinpoint exactly where they come from,” said Gorber. “But we do know the types of contaminants that we’re measuring are probably similar to contaminants that could be coming from the oilsands.”
Forestry and agriculture also occur upstream.
As well, climate change is causing the delta to dry out. Migratory birds can be affected anywhere along their flight path.
“My intention was to determine if there was a problem at the park and not to point fingers at who caused it,” Gorber said. “I think everybody has some kind of effect.”
Natural cycles may be involved. “There probably were periods in the past where it was good, or not so good.”
But the world’s secondlargest freshwater delta is no longer the pristine ecosystem it was even a generation ago. “Without a doubt, there’s something going on,” Gorber said.
Meanwhile, Teck Resources has applied to build an open-pit oilsands mine 30 kilometres from the park’s southern boundary.
THERE’S LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT STUDIES GOING ON WITH REGARD TO THE PARK OR THE OILSANDS OR B.C. HYDRO. ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON INDEPENDENTLY. NO ONE HAD PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. — DON GORBER, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT