Crowsnest Pass received yet another thunderstorm last night. It appears most of the rainfall occurred west of Blairmore and Coleman. By morning, visibility on the Crowsnest River had been reduced to less than six inches. Lately, it seems water clarity on the Crow is being effected more easily by these isolated weather events than in the past, particularly when the rainfall occurs in the Allison Creek Watershed. Allison Creek, located a few miles west of Coleman, is a tributary to the Crowsnest River. Some Crowsnest River anglers are beginning to question whether the discoloured water conditions are a result of the clear-cut logging that occurred last winter along the Atlas Road and Crowsnest Mountain, adjacent to Allison Creek. This morning, while other nearby tributaries were flowing clear, Allison Creek was “chalk-coloured,” once again. This is at least the third time in the past two weeks the Crowsnest River has become blown out after localized rains. Each time it has been Allison Creek that has been the main culprit.
Numerous complaints and letters of concern were filed with the municipal and provincial government last year by concerned individuals and groups against the proposed logging, but to no avail. It’s “clear-cut” that certain companies have a lot of clout, when it comes to decision-making time by those in power. More logging activity is scheduled to occur in this drainage in the coming months.
Allison Creek, earlier in the week ... flowing "chalk-like" in colour.