This is Carolyn's story of visiting the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex.

From above, the wetland looks like a mosaic: long rows of peat ridges (which started forming roughly 8,500 years ago) are separated by shallow pools of water.

It’s a wetland ecosystem in northern Alberta, about 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. It includes several important environmental features including McClelland Lake, a patterned fen (only 1 percent of the province’s wetlands have these), other wetlands, and sinkhole lakes.

The area provides an important stopover point and breeding ground for migratory bird species from across North America, including endangered species like the whooping crane. In addition to its biophysical properties, the area has socio-cultural importance for Indigenous communities in the region.

This area acts like nature’s kidneys; it helps filter and clean water and recharges surface and underground water supplies.

It also holds a lot of carbon.

A proposed mine expansion puts it at risk.

Suncor owns the majority of a mine in northern Alberta called Fort Hills, which sits on the edge of MLWC. The company plans to expand this mine into the wetland complex. Suncor says it can keep the unmined portion of the wetland unharmed while mining the other half of the complex.

But our new report, which reviews Suncor’s operational plan, found otherwise.

Read AWA's report, which outlines our concerns with Suncor's plan, here:
https://albertawilderness.ca/wp-conte...

#DontMineMcClelland #keepitintheground #ForPeatsSake #Nature #Conservation #Alberta #AlbertaEnergyRegulator #oil #oilandgas

Video produced by Amy Tucker for Alberta Wilderness Association.
Interviews by Amy Tucker. Footage of wetland, mining and wildlife from Shutterstock.

Music: Midnight Diving by KOEF, on Shutterstock.