A wet gravel pit proposed by Border Paving in the headwaters of Alberta’s North Raven River (Stauffer Creek) is a bad idea. This type of gravel extraction will increase water loss and has the potential to change groundwater flow characteristics that could severely impact flows in the North Raven River. The local community in cooperation with numerous conservation organizations (such as the Alberta Fish and Game Association, Trout Unlimited Canada and the Alberta Conservation Association) and government agencies have invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours of volunteer effort to restore this once degraded stream. Landowners modified land-use practices, allowed easements to protect the stream and in some cases fenced cattle away from the stream at their own cost. The local community embraced the North Raven River and returned this river to a healthy state and as a result it provides the finest trout angling in central Alberta and is widely regarded as a world class trout stream. To put the results of a broad-based community effort at risk for short-term gain is unacceptable. In my mind and a whole lot of other people who have gotten their hands dirty restoring this stream… that’s a hard, no. Although the application is a bad idea, I do support exploring alternatives for Border Paving’s operations… we need gravel for roads, but not this gravel; it’s for our stream.
Everyone who cares about the North Raven River (or just trout streams, could be yours next) needs to attend the open house on November 28, 2019 at the Butte Hall [55020 TWP RD 37-3 (SE 19-37-5-5)] or contact Clearwater County 403-845-4444 and ask for a package.
Dean Baayens
https://www.letsgooutdoors.ca/blogs/..._e5pBg5X4HN5Pg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccdz...0ojzW2QreaYmww
Wet Gravel Pit in the Headwaters of the North Raven River - A Real Bad Idea
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