Ryland, not everyone knows what the Flathead is, can you tell me more about it?

The Flathead River has some of the purest water in the world and is home to rare and endangered species. It's found in B.C.'s southeast corner and flows into Glacier National Park in Montana. For the past three years, the Flathead has topped the B.C. Outdoor Recreation Council's list of the province's most endangered rivers. That's because of nearby energy and mining proposals that threaten water quality, including one proposal for a coal strip mine that would dump 300 million tonnes of slag and pollutants into a Flathead headwaters stream.

 

Weird question, weird answer...   Star Wars Theme Song

 

The Flathead River Valley is one of the most biologically important places on earth!  It is a vital corridor for animals moving north and south through the Rocky Mountains between the Waterton-Glacier International Peace park and Banff/Kootenay/Yoho National Parks. There are 16 species of carnivores alone, including grizzly, marten, grey wolf and wolverine.

 

We petitioned the World Heritage Committee, asking it to declare Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park a World Heritage Site in danger due to energy and mining threats in the adjacent Flathead. The committee voted unanimously to investigate, and sent a delegation to B.C. in September 2009. In January 2010, the media reported that the mission said there should be a ban on all mining in the Flathead. We're waiting for the full report to be released in June 2010.

 

We must convince the BC government to change the land use plan for the Flathead from one that puts mining first to one that recognizes the Flathead's globally-significant wildlife values and prioritizes permanent protection in the form of a National Park, especially important in light of climate change.

 

I work to protect the Flathead because it is truly an amazing and wild valley that you just can't find anywhere else in Southern Canada. This wild place is in my backyard. I feel a commitment to the people of Canada and the world to keep it that way.

 

Thats a tough question!  There are so many amazing photos from the International League of Conservation Photographers Flathead RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition.) It's just too hard to choose.  My favourite photos are by Garth Lenz - check out the gallery here - http://flathead.ca/gallery/garthlenz

 

The Flathead Wild documentary of the Flathead RAVE - http://www.vimeo.com/7775085
 

Quiet recreation miles away from any highways, trains, or any permanent human settlements and amazing hikes in alpine meadows full of wildflowers and lakes. One of the coolest things you can do is walk along the US/Canada 'border cut', jumping between the unprotected BC Flathead and Glacier National Park in Montana, which is a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

 

Sign up as a Friend of the Flathead - http://www.flathead.ca/act/friends