Tag Archives: North Fork Flathead

More coverage of BC’s North Fork mining and energy development ban

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

We’re starting to see more — and more detailed — coverage of British Columbia’s decision to forgo resource extraction activities in the Canadian Flathead River Valley. Two good articles appeared today.

The Daily Inter Lake did a nice, balanced job . . .

The lieutenant governor of British Columbia announced Tuesday that all types of mining and oil and gas development “will not be permitted” in the province’s portion of the Flathead Valley.

It was news that was well received in Montana.

Read the entire article . . .

Unsurprisingly, the Environmental News Service write-up was a bit heavier on quotes from various environmental outfits, but also includes considerable background information . . .

Mining and drilling for oil, gas and coal will be banned in the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Basin, under a new partnership with the state of Montana announced Tuesday in British Columbia’s Speech from the Throne, an annual address that identifies the Province’s legislative priorities for the coming year.

British Columbia Lieutenant Governor Steven Point declared, “A new partnership with Montana will sustain the environmental values in the Flathead River Basin in a manner consistent with current forestry, recreation, guide outfitting and trapping uses. It will identify permissible land uses and establish new collaborative approaches to transboundary issues.”

Read the entire article . . .

BC declares North Fork off limits to mining & energy development

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

In the annual “Throne Speech,” British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point declared the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Valley off limits to mining and energy extraction. Assuming no subtle weasel-wording, this means B.C. just shut the door to activities such as coal and gold mining and coalbed methane development in the Canadian North Fork. Word is, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer will be flying to Vancouver, B.C., next week to sign a memorandum of understanding committing both the state and the province to work towards the same goals for the Flathead River Basin on their respective sides of the border.

Currently, the Missoulian has the most detailed coverage . . .

British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point declared the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Valley off limits to mining and energy extraction in a speech to his parliament on Tuesday.

Citing a new partnership with Montana, Point said the Flathead River Basin would be managed for existing types of forestry, recreation, guide outfitting and trapping uses.

Read the entire article . . .

The Flathead Beacon has an Associated Press write-up . . .

British Columbia’s government said Tuesday it will not permit mining or drilling in a remote valley along the Montana border that companies have been trying to develop for 25 years.

Read the entire article . . .

Follow-up: UNESCO scientific mission to Waterton-Glacier Park

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

Although the Missoulian posted some initial coverage of last month’s visit by a U.N. scientific delegation investigating mining and other resource development threats to Waterton-Glacier Park, the only local paper that paid significant attention to the subject was the Hungry Horse News — a fact that slipped past your friendly webweenie.

Herewith are lead-ins and links to the articles published by the Hungry Horse News.

From the September 24th edition . . .

U.N. scientists: Glacier on ‘pedestal’

Two scientists from the United Nations are touring the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and the Canadian Flathead to see for themselves the potential impacts of proposed mines in the region.

“We plan to consult as widely as possible with all stakeholders,” said Paul Dingwall, a New Zealand scientist with the World Conservation Union and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Dingwall and Keshore Rao, deputy director of the United Nation’s World Heritage Center, spent most of Monday holed up in Glacier Park’s community building, hearing report after report about the Park and its native flora and fauna.

Read the entire article . . .

From the October 7th edition . . .

Scientists here say they made an impression on U.N.

After a solid week of meetings and tours, American scientists and conservationists feel good about their recent visit with a delegation from the United Nations.

Read the entire article . . .

B.C. mining proposals threaten U.S. environmental jewel, enviros will tell UN

Environmental Issues, News, , , ,

A Canadian Press article posted yesterday evening . . .

Environmentalists say a natural treasure in the United States is threatened by proposed coal and gold mining in southeastern B.C., and they’ll ask United Nations environmental experts later this week to put some pressure on the province to stop the developments.

The UN environmental experts are currently in Montana gathering information about the potential damage B.C. mining proposals could inflict upon Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in that state, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve.

Read the entire article . . .

U.N. scientists assess mining threats to Waterton-Glacier Park

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

We’re starting to see more complete news coverage of this week’s visit by a U.N. scientific delegation investigating mining and other resource development threats to Waterton-Glacier Park.

The Missoulian posted an excellent article on the first day’s activities very early this morning. Here’s the lead-in . . .

A team of scientists from the United Nations is visiting Glacier National Park, assessing potential threats posed by mining plans in Canadian wildlands upstream of the park.

Glacier, in partnership with adjacent Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, was named a World Heritage Site in 1995; that UNESCO designation recognizes the area’s spectacular natural resources, including its diversity of wildlife and its role as a “biological crossroads.

But several Canadian companies are interested in resources that lie just beyond the two park boundaries – namely coal, gold and coalbed methane. British Columbia’s provincial government already has granted exploration permits in the Canadian Flathead River drainage, which flows south into Montana to form Glacier Park’s western boundary.

Read the entire article . . .

UN officials to visit Glacier Park this week — no details yet

Environmental Issues, News, , , , ,

A UN delegation is scheduled to visit Glacier National Park this week and locations in  the Canadian Flathead as part of UNESCO’s investigation into threats to Waterton-Glacier Park posed by coal mining and other proposed extractive activities. So far, the only recent news is a short, uninformative AP article.

No further information yet. We’ll post coverage as it becomes available.

Pacific Northwest Trail created

News, Travel Articles, , ,

From yesterday’s online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .

When the national scenic trails system was created four decades ago, the goal was to build a walking path across the United States.

That goal came closer to reality in March, when President Obama signed a bill creating the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and two others. They are the first such trails designated in 26 years.

Read the entire article . . .

According to a map posted on the Pacific Northwest Trail Association website, the east end of the trail starts in Glacier Park at Chief Mountain Customs near the south edge of Waterton Lake and passes through Polebridge — and a good part of the North Fork —  on its way to Eureka and, eventually, the Pacific Coast at Cape Alava.

Spring Visitors

Travel Articles, , ,

The North Fork Hostel and the Polebridge area got a nice write-up in the Helena Independent Record last Thursday . . .

I awoke to a thump-thump-thump sound of fresh spring snow blowing off the trees and landing on the metal roof.

It was morning in North Fork Country.

Situated next to Glacier National Park’s western boundary about 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Polebridge offers visitors a relaxed attitude and sweeping views of the Livingston Range to the east and the Whitefish Range to the west.

Read the entire article . . .

Grizzly bear death near Polebridge under investigation

News, ,

According to an AP article posted yesterday in the online edition of the Great Falls Tribune, wildlife officials are seeking information on the death of a male grizzly bear south of Polebridge. It was discovered in early October in the Coal Creek drainage.

Anyone with information can call:

  • Warden Capt. Lee Anderson of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 406-751-4561,
  • the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Missoula at 406-329-3000, or
  • the FWP poaching hot line at 1-800-TIP-MONT.

Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.