Abstract
The Flathead Basin Commission is one of the last intact ecosystems in North America, with the full complement of carnivores that were in the Basin when Europeans arrived, and with vascular plant diversity exceeding that of the Serengeti. However, the headwaters of the transboundary Flathead is threatened with large scale mining and energy development projects that would forever change the pristine nature of this basin. In 2008, studies were undertaken to compare water quality, aquatic biodiversity and fisheries in the Flathead Basin against the adjacent Elk Basin, which is heavily impacted by five open pit coal mines. To date, the results of the studies have shown statistically significant values with respect to heavy metals, particularly selenium, nitrates and sulphates in the Elk River versus the Flathead River.
Start Date
5-3-2010 3:30 PM
End Date
5-3-2010 4:00 PM
Document Type
Presentation
Comparative Analysis of the Transboundary Flathead and Elk River Basins
The Flathead Basin Commission is one of the last intact ecosystems in North America, with the full complement of carnivores that were in the Basin when Europeans arrived, and with vascular plant diversity exceeding that of the Serengeti. However, the headwaters of the transboundary Flathead is threatened with large scale mining and energy development projects that would forever change the pristine nature of this basin. In 2008, studies were undertaken to compare water quality, aquatic biodiversity and fisheries in the Flathead Basin against the adjacent Elk Basin, which is heavily impacted by five open pit coal mines. To date, the results of the studies have shown statistically significant values with respect to heavy metals, particularly selenium, nitrates and sulphates in the Elk River versus the Flathead River.