I am writing this as a concerned land owner along the Medicine River at Hwy 54 and Range Road 15, in Red Deer County.
There are two proposed gravel pit applications, one has already gone forward and been defeated; presently they have started the appeal process to reverse the county’s decision. The second is just waiting to see what happens with the first.
Both of these applications would lay within the Medicine River aquifer, almost directly across from each other. The interesting thing about the aquifer is that water from the Red Deer River travels through the gravel beds and comes out in springs along the west side of the Medicine River in the aquifer zone. The reason for this unique flow is that where the Red Deer river crosses through the gravel beds on the southwest side of Hwy 54, it’s higher than the Medicine River. Thus, through simple hydraulics the water makes its way through the gravel beds and into the Medicine River.
The great thing about the springs that empty into the Medicine River is that it’s a prime walleye hatching and rearing area. The fish are safe in these areas and grow until they are big enough to travel down the Medicine and into the Red Deer River. Where the Medicine and Red Deer River meet is known as one of the best walleye fishing areas around.
As I am finding out, the Medicine River floods and every spring it breaks its banks due to ice buildup. As I was talking about hydraulics before, when the river is at its high spring water mark or flooding, the reverse will be happening — water will be pushed back into the exposed gravel pits, thus flooding them.
In the case of one of our wonderful Central Alberta summers where we experience large amounts of precipitation, the Medicine will flood. Flooding water will breach the pits and flood them, thus carrying any contaminants the water picks up downstream.
I work in industry and know that equipment leaks, spills happen, there is just no way to avoid that. So hydraulic fluid, oil, grease, antifreeze, mercury, diesel, tire fibres, break fibres and asphalt plant byproducts will be pulled downstream to the City of Red Deer and the water intake.
The gravel pit proponents’ models say the Medicine doesn’t flood and they can avoid this. But we all know that one-in-100-year floods are happening a lot more often, and due to the nature of the aquifer area, the pits will flood. These pits are not much above water level — the gravel pit proponents’ own testing has proved this, so most of the time they will be mining in water and polluting it, which of course will make its way into the Medicine and Red Deer Rivers.
So it’s not spring breakup or a flood situation, water that is still able to will be moving through the gravel beds towards the Medicine. Along the way, the waters will still be able to pick up these containments and silt. So as you can imagine, the walleye hatching areas will be a thing of the past and the silt and contaminants will be making their way towards Red Deer.
I am new to the area and really concerned about the effect these proposed developments will have not only on the aquifer and the farmers who make a living on the aquifer, but all the water users downstream of these developments.
Its really sad to think that these big companies show spite towards the county and their original decision. The county decided that these pits were a no go and it should have been left at that. I know how big companies work: keep trying until the people fighting can’t fight anymore and they will win.
Well, the environment and the fishery need us to keep fighting.
Craig McPhee
Innisfail