The front ranges in southwest Alberta, known as the Eastern Slopes, have been garnering significant attention lately. What began as the current provincial government quietly rescinding the 1976 Peter Lougheed Coal Policy has turned into public outcry seeking federal support. A steel monolith was even erected to attract public attention. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential long-term effects of open-pit coal mining practices, primarily the risk of contaminating a large water supply.
Sitting just north of newly protected Castle Wildland Provincial Park, the Eastern Slopes lie just west of the Oldman Reservoir, part of a watershed that feeds a large region in southern Alberta. There are large concerns regarding Selenium (a by-product of coal mining) leeching into groundwater and it's effects on native trout species. While the health of the water supply is likely the largest concern, how might these open-pit practices affect other aspects of the ecosystem, particularly other animals?
https://www.lrbgeoscience.com/elk-eastern-slopes
Sitting just north of newly protected Castle Wildland Provincial Park, the Eastern Slopes lie just west of the Oldman Reservoir, part of a watershed that feeds a large region in southern Alberta. There are large concerns regarding Selenium (a by-product of coal mining) leeching into groundwater and it's effects on native trout species. While the health of the water supply is likely the largest concern, how might these open-pit practices affect other aspects of the ecosystem, particularly other animals?
https://www.lrbgeoscience.com/elk-eastern-slopes