The International Elk-Kootenay Watershed Study Board (IEKWSB) has released its first interim report, offering Fernie and the wider region an early look at efforts to better understand pollution trends, ecological impacts, and community priorities throughout the transboundary Elk–Kootenay watershed. Read or download the full report here.
The Study Board — created by the International Joint Commission in 2024 and working in partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation — has spent its first year gathering science, Indigenous knowledge, and public input from communities across B.C., Montana, and Idaho. That includes listening sessions and workshops held here in the Elk Valley.
What’s emerging is a more nuanced and balanced picture than the headlines often suggest.
Mining remains a central part of the Elk Valley — not just economically, but culturally — and thousands of families rely on those jobs. The interim work acknowledges this reality while also noting that Teck/EVR has made measurable progress in reducing selenium and other contaminants, thanks to large-scale water treatment systems now operating throughout the valley.
At the same time, the Study Board is careful to note that mines are not the only source of contaminants in the watershed. Municipal wastewater — including treated effluent from the City of Fernie — is also increasing as the community grows, adding its own set of nutrients and compounds to the river system. Agricultural use, recreation, and natural processes all contribute as well.
The early findings reinforce that no single source and no single solution will address watershed health. Instead, it will require ongoing cross-border cooperation, continued investment in treatment technology, and open conversations about how communities can grow while protecting the rivers that sustain them.
The Study Board’s final report, expected in fall 2026, will aim to bring all of this together into clearer recommendations. For now, the interim update offers one key reminder: the Elk River is shared by many — communities, ecosystems, and industries alike — and crafting its future will require everyone at the table.
