Giving The Stressed Out North Stann Creek River A Break, Three Sandbars Shut Down For 2026

And in other news out of Cabinet....

Back in August 2025, we took you to the North Stann Creek River where extraction of sand and gravel was contaminating the water. While that particular area hasn't been used since the start of the year, Cabinet has ordered that 11 sand bars along the river require further replenishment and 3 bars - two in Hope Creek and one in Pomona - are fully depleted and would be closed for the remainder of the 2026 extraction season.

Today's Cabinet brief says that they have decided not to issue permits for any newly proposed extraction sites along the river during 2026. They are also recommending a technical reassessment of identified bars to determine eligibility and extraction limits for the second quarter of 2026.