Let the images speak for themselves
Revealing the Old Sodium Bentonite Mining Scars
Sodium Bentonite Clay was mined south of Rosalind, Alberta from 1958-1975. Disturbance has left extensive scars in the landscape that have not healed in 50 years. Once vegetation is removed and the hard surface is disturbed, include the crust on the outside of erodible bedrock and the harder ironstone layer that adds protection, extreme erosion creates deeply eroded channels and permanent loss of productive agricultural landscape. This area exists in the last 5% of aspen parkland that exists in Alberta, the single most endangered ecosystem in Canada. The proposed mining project seeks to develop a new extraction area roughly four miles from the severe erosion and slop instability seen at the previous mining site. Located on environmentally significant land, the project is designed to extract sodium bentonite clay through strip mining for consumer and industrial applications, including clumping cat litter. There are concerns that strip mining in this endangered ecosystem risks turning the landscape into a permanent liability. There are also concerns relating to the risk of escalating soil erosion, declining property values, loss of productive agricultural land, and an immediate negative impact on adjacent farming and tourism operations.
Aerial footage of a natural valley in the aspen parkland region of Central Alberta. Showing a creek flowing through the valley bottom, a direct tributary of the Battle River. A mining proposal by western clay corporation exists for this valley, which could destroy a valuable valley complex, further fragmenting an ecosystem that is the single most endangered in Canada. Ecosystem services of natural landscapes are high, as part of only 5% of remaining Aspen Parkland in Alberta. Erosion risks are extreme due to the topography and exposed, highly erodible bedrock. The valley was scoured by glacial floodwaters, variably eroding different areas and leaving unique natural formations and steep slopes. The unique nature of this landscape make it suited to agri-tourism and ecotourism. Mechanical disturbance from strip mining would remove vegetation essential to retaining soil and preventing erosion. Other examples of past mining in the area show that deep erosion channels result from this type of disturbance, creating ongoing damage and permanent loss of productive agricultural land. The impact on water quality due to siltation and increased sediment in the inter-provincial river are a major concern. Efforts to protect this endangered landscape must be undertaken.
An Endangered Working Landscape: Rich in Ecological Value and Environmental Significance
A Bird’s Eye View of the Maps
Layering of maps of environmentally significant land, sodium bentonite mining proposal, historical land survey maps regarding sodium bentonite, land maps showing areas of good quality bentonite in commercially significant quantities on 31-42-17-W4M, which was previously mined by Dresser, vs. the sections 19-43-17-W4 and NW-18-43-17-W4 covered under the application. Local landowners and historical residents of the area have concerns regarding the consistency of the clay used by WCC, given historical data and reports show significant variation in clay quality in that area (GOA, 1958).
Rain Runoff Streams During Regular Rain Event - Battle River Valley
Runoff can cause extreme erosion in landscapes where natural vegetation is disturbed. In this fragment of the Aspen Parkland in the Battle River Valley, Rosalind Alberta, the landscape is made of highly erodible bedrock. Deep-rooted native vegetation is critical to soil retention and erosion prevention. Disturbance, like a sodium bentonite clay mining operation, has the tendency to cause extreme erosion and can turn a working landscape that is productive for agriculture into a liability. The steep slopes and erodible soil makes this a conservation priority.
Runoff in the Battle River Valley During Regular Rainfall Event
The landscape of the Battle River Valley south of Rosalind, Alberta: its steep slopes, erodible bedrock and sandy soils make this area prone to extreme erosion if the landscape is disturbed. The deep-rooted native vegetation is critical to holding the soil in place during runoff events. This is video from a normal rainfall event on August 3, 2025, demonstrating that water runs overland during rainfall and the vegetation holds the soil in place. The video shows at least 1" of water traveling overland. It is critical that this natural landscape remain undisturbed by mining, particularly sodium bentonite clay mining, in order to preserve the landscape and water quality as this is the drainage basin for the Battle River, an inter-provincial water body.