CPAWS Southern Alberta

CPAWS Southern Alberta We are a non-profit working to promote thriving, healthy, and diverse lands and waters in Alberta. www.cpaws-southernalberta.org
http://twitter.com/cpawssab

For more than five years, tens of thousands of Albertans voiced their concerns about the impact coal mining will have — ...
08/27/2026

For more than five years, tens of thousands of Albertans voiced their concerns about the impact coal mining will have — for our drinking water, for wildlife habitat, for human health, and for other industries, like agri-food, tourism, and recreation ⚠️

Indigenous Peoples, farmers, ranchers, scientists, conservation organizations, and Albertans across our province have a right to decide what does or doesn't happen in our headwaters region.

This year, over 200,000 Albertans signed the petition, demanding legislation that protects the Rockies and our headwaters ✊

Legislation. NOT a referendum.

A referendum is not a sure means of safeguarding our most precious resource, and so we’re reiterating to the Government of Alberta, to the Minister of Energy and Minerals, that we want what we’ve always wanted:

A permanent policy to protect the Eastern Slopes, Alberta’s water, and our communities 🏔️

Send a letter using our new pre-written tool — it only takes a minute. YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) can, if they choose, pass legislation now. Today, tomorrow, next week. Nothing is stopping the government from listening to Albertans.

Demand they do so at https://action.cpaws.org/page/195940/action/1 👈

08/20/2026

A field update on the Highwood in from our Conservation Science and Program Manager Josh 🌲🌲🌲

The good news — the bridge hasn't been built, which means that the clearcut hasn't started and MIGHT not this season.

We're keeping our eyes peeled and will keep you posted 👀

⚠️ New analysis shows 1/3 of fish in the exceeded Alberta’s selenium threshold for the protection of aquatic life ⚠️Th...
08/19/2026

⚠️ New analysis shows 1/3 of fish in the exceeded Alberta’s selenium threshold for the protection of aquatic life ⚠️

This summer, 38 fish from five species representative of the fish assemblage of the Oldman River downstream of the Oldman Dam — rainbow trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish, white sucker, and longnose sucker — were analyzed for selenium concentrations in muscle tissue by our Board Chair Jon Mee, a Mount Royal Professor, and biologist Lorne Fitch.

Alarmingly, of the sportfish species — rainbow trout, brown trout, and mountain whitefish — 33% exceeded the Government of Alberta's threshold for the protection of aquatic species 🐟🧪🔬

Of course, this finding also has implications for those individuals, families, and communities who consume fish found in the Oldman River.

While the sample size was small — this was a 'reconnaisance-level' study, providing preliminary evidence to justify further evidence-gathering — the results provide warning signals of selenium impacts extending further down in the watershed from legacy coal mines 🪨

Beyond a moratorium on coal — how many times do we have to ask?! — what's urgently needed is a comprehensive examination of selenium to connect the dots between legacy coal mines and contamination of fish and aquatic invertebrates for the larger watershed.

Full study can be found on our websitehttps://cpaws-southernalberta.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/UpdatedFormatting_SeleniumAnalysis_OldmanRiver.pdf 🎣

Thank you to Crowsnest Headwaters, who supported this important study!

08/13/2026

"Each generation must commit to protect wild places, processes, and things, and not give way... Wind and water eventually wear away stone. Persistence is the handmaiden of resistance."

If the stormy weather is keeping you inside, there's a stirring new blog post on our website from our long-time friend and comrade in conservation arms, Lorne Fitch 💚

The latest on Loomis Creek 🗯️ Last week, we posted about Fisheries and Oceans Canada's frustrating decision NOT to fine ...
08/06/2026

The latest on Loomis Creek 🗯️

Last week, we posted about Fisheries and Oceans Canada's frustrating decision NOT to fine West Fraser Cochrane for the illegally constructed bridge over the Highwood River.

Many of you asked what was happening with the larger question of logging in — and, unfortunately, the answer is that it’s slated to move ahead *this* winter 🌲🪓🪵

However, after YEARS of studies, conversations, and community feedback, the latest plans have reduced the overall area to be logged from approximately 1,200 hectares to 914 (~24% reduction).

Nevertheless, we commissioned an update to the Ecohydrological Study we released last year — and the independent study found that while the updated plan has improvements, it is *not* enough to resolve the risks to Critical Habitat in the Loomis Creek Watershed 🐟

In light of these findings, we continue to call for the logging plan to be halted, and for this important area to be permanently protected.

You can read more on our website, including the full updated study, at https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/the-latest-on-loomis-creek/ 🔬

⚠️ What happened with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s investigation into the illegally constructed bridge over the Highwoo...
07/28/2026

⚠️ What happened with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s investigation into the illegally constructed bridge over the Highwood River in ? ⚠️

After two years, we’re finally able to tell you (sort of).

After Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed that destruction of for bull trout had in fact occurred, it issued a ‘corrective measures order’ in 2023 to Spray Lake Sawmills — an instruction to the company to remove the bridge and start reclamation work 🚧

It is worth noting that in 2024, we observed continuing erosion and sediment control failures STILL occurring at the site.

However, in 2025, DFO’s branch responsible for enforcement, Conservation and Protection (C&P), closed the Highwood bridge file noting that NO further enforcement action would take place ❗

Unfortunately, the paragraph describing the reasoning for this decision was REDACTED from our information request and it was stated that “C&P will be closing this file with no further enforcement action. Please be assured that this decision was not made lightly.”

From what we can ascertain, it seems that even though the Species at Risk Act WAS found to be contravened, charges weren't laid because Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not believe it had the resources and/or capacity to investigate this contravention in addition to other problematic locations 🔍

All of the details, and the full debrief, can be found on our website at https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/the-highwood-bridge-investigation/.

📷 Amber Payliss | The Bug Parade

If proposed coal mine exploration and development in Alberta’s proceeded, there are few water basins in our province t...
07/22/2026

If proposed coal mine exploration and development in Alberta’s proceeded, there are few water basins in our province that wouldn’t be in some way impacted ⚠️

As many may know, coal mining releases toxic effluent (liquid industrial waste) into our watersheds as an unavoidable byproduct of the mining process.

This effluent, which includes contaminants like selenium, doesn’t “stay put.” Rather it moves downstream, impacting fish, wildlife, and communities far beyond the original mine site. Along the way, it also bioaccumulates 🐟🌾🐄

Currently, there are NO provincial or federal regulations that safeguard ’s water — including our headwaters and, ultimately, our drinking water — from toxic levels of mining effluent.

What’s more, coal companies have admitted that they do not have the technology to prevent the leaching of contaminants such as selenium ✖️

And if that’s the case, why should they be allowed to operate?

The health of our province’s watersheds CANNOT be the collateral damage of the coal industry’s inability to operate responsibly — or, for that matter, YourAlberta (Government of Alberta)'s unwillingness to listen to the hundreds of thousands of Albertans who have called for a moratorium on coal mining in our ⛰️

Learn more, and see more coal maps, at https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/conservation/coal-mine-free-alberta!

Thank you to everyone who braved the sweltering heat and swarming skeeters to join us and the Galt Museum & Archives in ...
07/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who braved the sweltering heat and swarming skeeters to join us and the Galt Museum & Archives in a drawing workshop on 'noticing' native plants along the last Friday 🌱

The workshop, which was led by the inimitable Geneva of Pasture Land Illustration was a calm exploration of the power of patient observation in attuning to the world around us.

Learning to notice is one of the most accessible ways we can begin participating in land stewardship, because we can’t advocate for landscapes and species — including our beloved, and often at-risk, species — we haven’t taken the time to get to know 🐍🪻🦎

07/11/2026

Look what's available! 🌼

This new colour of our favourite t-shirt is now available at and 💛

07/09/2026

The fight is far from over — and we've got no plans of giving up on the and 's water.

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T2G1A1

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