Fraser ranks third on endangered rivers list

Janaya Fuller-Evans
May 22, 2010
Burnaby Now

The Fraser River came in third on this year's endangered rivers of B.C. list, moving up one spot from last year's place as the fourth most endangered river in the province.

The Fraser has ranked in the top five of B.C.'s most endangered rivers for 17 of the 18 years that the list has been compiled by the Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia.

The river earned the dubious distinction due to pollution, industrial development and urbanization affecting the river.

Two B.C. rivers tied for first place, making the Fraser fourth in the number of most endangered rivers, though third in the rankings.

The most worrying issue with the river this year was the dismal sockeye salmon return, according to Mark Angelo, chair of the Rivers Institute at BCIT.

Angelo, who is also chair of the Outdoor Recreation Council's B.C. Rivers program and a Burnaby resident, said it was the lowest sockeye return recorded in 52 years.

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