The McClelland Lake watershed lies just east of the Athabasca River in northeastern Alberta about 90 km north of Fort McMurray in an area known as the Fort Hills.

Photo by J. Hildebrand

Photo by J. Hildebrand

Photo by S. Bray

In early September, two Alberta Wilderness Association staff will travel to the region for an overnight paddling trip hosted by Fort McMurray’s Borealis Paddling Club.

The McClelland Lake Wetland Complex is a hot spot for boreal wildlife, and it is an important area for migratory birds amid a region full of toxic tailings ponds.

From above, the area looks like a mosaic: long rows of peat ridges (which formed over the past 8 to 11 thousand years) are separated by shallow pools of water. The peats help pull carbon from the atmosphere, and the area acts like nature’s kidneys; it helps filter and clean water and recharges surface and underground water supplies.

AWA is in the middle of a campaign to try and protect the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex from the expansion of the Suncor-owned Fort Hills oilsands mine. The Alberta Energy Regulator approved Suncor’s plan to mine roughly half of the complex, under the condition that it guarantees the sustainability of the unmined half.

AWA reviewed Suncor’s plan to protect the unmined area and found several concerns that pose a significant risk of irreversible damage to the area. AWA are asking the Alberta Energy Regulator to revoke its approval of Suncor’s plan. Our findings resulted in the AER opening a Reconsideration Process for its decision to approve Suncor’s plan, and phase one of this process has recently concluded.

Adventurer

Fundraising Goal

Goal: $1,000

Raised to date: $1,030.00

103% raised of $1,000:

Sponsor this adventure now and help make the tree grow!

All donations to AWA are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

Why Sponsor This Adventure?

Our trip is part of AWA's ongoing efforts to bring public awareness to this situation, and to ask the Alberta Energy Regulator to reconsider and revoke its approval of Suncor's plan. We also ask for Suncor to commit to halting all attempts to mine within the watershed of the vitally important, irreplaceable, and irrecoverable McClelland Lake Wetland Complex.

Our vision is for the entire 330 km² McClelland watershed to be designated a permanent protected area including Indigenous co-management, and its two patterned fens designated Ecological Reserves or other stringent protection compatible with the exercise of Indigenous rights.

Why Join This Adventure?

While we love having you come along on adventures, this one is not open to the public, but you can help support the trip!

Required Equipment

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Things To be Aware Of

Suncor owns the majority of a mine in northern Alberta called Fort Hills, which sits on the edge of McClelland wetland complex. Now, the company plans to expand this mine into the wetland complex. Suncor says in its operational plan, which was submitted to the Alberta Energy Regulator in 2021, that it can keep the unmined portion of the wetland unharmed while mining the other half of the complex. The Alberta Energy Regulator approved this plan in 2022; you can read the approval letter here.

Suncor’s Operational Plan has to guarantee the protection of the unmined portion of the wetland complex.

But our new report, which reviews Suncor’s Operational Plan, found major deficiencies in this plan and we think the unmined portion of the wetland complex is at serious risk if Suncor expands its mine. Read more about our Don't Mine McClelland campaign on the Alberta Wilderness Association website.

Details

The McClelland Lake watershed lies just east of the Athabasca River in northeastern Alberta about 90 km north of Fort McMurray in an area known as the Fort Hills.

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