VANCOUVER -- The Flathead River in southeastern B.C. has the dubious honour of being named the province's most endangered river for 2007.
The river, which flows into Montana, heads the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.'s annual list of threatened waterways.
The council says the river supports important trans-boundary fish populations while sustaining a high density of inland grizzly bears and other wildlife.
It notes that while the United States section is protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the B.C. stretch faces a number of threats.
The council points to a proposed open-pit coal mine in the river's headwaters, saying water quality would be harmed and wilderness values compromised.
The Capilano River and Georgia Basin steelhead streams took second place on the 2007 endangered rivers' list.
These were followed by the Coldwater, Fraser, Coquitlam, Taku and Cheakamus rivers.
The council says while all steelhead streams are suffering, the Capilano was singled out because "significant steps could be taken to address habitat issues."
Council spokesman Mark Angelo says the poorly designed dam "should be upgraded and modified" to enable the safe passage of young fish.
The Coldwater, a key tributary in the Nicola River system, moved up to third from fifth last year because of threats from low summer water flows.
The Fraser came in fourth, marking the 14th time in 15 years that it has made the top five endangered rivers in B.C.
