Concerns Over Proposed Gravel Pit Near Bighill Springs Provincial Park

Concerns over proposed gravel pit near

Bighill Springs Provincial Park.

Trout Unlimited Canada recently became aware of a proposed gravel pit in the area of the aquifer that feeds the springs of Bighill Springs Provincial Park, a major contributor to Bighill Creek, a small creek flowing through Rocky View County and the Town of Cochrane, AB.

Over the past several years Trout Unlimited Canada has participated in riparian restoration activities along Bighill Creek, along with community members and partners. We have also conducted educational fish sampling demonstrations along the creek during community events. In recent years, Trout Unlimited Canada has worked closely with the Bighill Creek Preservation Society, conducting a fish sampling program including multiple sampling sites along Bighill Creek, and has provided support developing and implementing a stream temperature monitoring program. The springs and creek support a diverse fish community of both native and naturalized species, provides a relatively unique urban small creek trout fishing opportunity between the Ghost and Bearspaw Dams, provides a treasured visitor experience at the provincial park to view the unique springs and associated geological formations, and is a valuable feature within the Town of Cochrane.

TUC is concerned that the gravel mining operation proposed by Mountain Ash could have potentially negative effects on the aquifer that feeds the springs and creek. Removal of a large volume of material in this location may reduce the filtering capacity of the overlying sediments which could negatively affect water quality and flow and impair the health of the system.

TUC supports the Friends of Bighill Springs Provincial Park and the Bighill Creek Preservation Society in calling for Rocky View County council to reject the proposed bylaw change that would facilitate the Summit Pit from being developed as proposed, and to consider a protective buffer around the springs to restrict sand and gravel mining activities in the interest of ensuring the long-term protection of water quality and flow of the springs within Bighill Springs Provincial Park which are a major contributor to Bighill Creek.

Rocky View County is holding a public hearing on a proposed bylaw change related to this gravel pit development on March 2, 2021.

If you would like to participate in the hearing, comments can be submitted via email on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 starting at 9:00 am. Video/audio presentations can also be uploaded here; the deadline for those is Monday, March 1st, 2021 at 12:00 pm.

For guidelines on submitting an e-mail during the hearing or uploading an audio or video recording, visit the Rocky View County website. More information on the Master Site Development Plan for the Summit Pit can be found here.