Gravel Mining Threatens Big Hill Springs Provincial Park

The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and the Bighill Creek Preservation Society are teaming up for a field trip to explore the area north of Cochrane, specifically around the Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. The tour, titled 'Adventures for Wilderness: Ice, Glaciers, Gravel and Oil,' is scheduled for September 26 and will be led by Tako Koning, a retired petroleum geologist with extensive experience in leading similar tours through the Bighill area.

The field trip aims to educate participants about the environmental impact of gravel mining operations in the region. Much of the land surrounding the provincial park has been developed into massive gravel pits, which have slowly enclosed the 70-acre park on nearly all sides. Koning will guide tour visitors to several stops along the way, including two active producing gravel mines and two soon-to-be-developed very large gravel mines.

The purpose of the trip is to raise awareness about the potential dangers that development poses to the park and its surrounding watershed. The Bighill Creek Preservation Society and the AWA are concerned about the environmental impact of these new gravel mines, which they believe will harm the park's ecosystem and water supply. Koning has expressed his concerns about the reclamation process, stating that it means nothing 30 or 40 years down the road.

The trip is set to depart from the Historic Cochrane Ranche in the early morning of September 26. The Environmental Appeal Board will make a final decision regarding the development of the Summit Gravel Pit in October, which is expected to have significant implications for the region.