Protect the endangered Kettle River, B.C. Canada
In Nov of 2007 Big White Ski Resort applied to the Ministry of Environment for a 256% increase in present water licences. The new licences would see the removal of a further 488 million gallons (2.2 billion litres) of water from the Kettle River watershed, taking water from Trapping Creek, Hallam Creek and Whitefoot Creek and storing water in two reservoirs. In recent years the Kettle River has seen record low flows and is already ranked 6th on the 2008 Endangered Rivers List due in part to excessive water extraction.
We call on the Ministry of Environment to DENY the application. Furthermore we demand that a Comprehensive Water Management Plan be in place before issuance of any further licences.
We the undersigned call on the Ministry of the Environment to DENY the application by Big White to take more water from the Kettle River and demand that the Ministry issues no further licences on the Kettle River or streams feeding the Kettle River until a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Kettle is in place.
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
