Marty's Drift
Oct 2007 |
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Pebble Mine
Imagine a large-scale industrial mining operation that could completely destroy a world-class rainbow trout sport fishery, the subsistence lifestyle of thousands of native Alaskans, and a commercial fishery worth hundreds of millions of dollars each year for native and non-native fishermen.
A Canadian mining company called Northern Dynasty wants to develop the largest gold and copper mine in North American at the headwaters of Bristol Bay. Some of the things that would be included in this mine development would be an open pit 2.9 miles long, a half mile wide, and 1,700 feet deep. Additionally there would be an earthen dam to contain the mining waste water. The earthen dam would be 4.3 miles long and 700 feet high, larger than the Three Gorges Dam in China. The dam proposed for Pebble Mine is an unstable earthen dam in the heart of earthquake country.
Headwater tributaries that lie just below this proposed mine feed the Mulchatna/Nushagak and Newhalen/Kvichak river systems. These rivers host and support the largest runs of Pacific salmon in North America and perhaps the world. The resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden also depend on the health of this watershed for their existence.
The Kvichak River, Lake Iliamna, and their tributaries are home to large rainbow trout and massive runs of sockeye salmon. Courtney Brasher, age 16, with a 27-inch rainbow caught in Nanuktuk Creek. |
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Mine development poses several threats to the fishing of this area. The amount of water the mine would need would dewater streams that salmon and trout use for spawning and rearing. Pollutants--copper and cyanide--have a huge risk of entering the water and killing salmonids.
Alagnak and Nushagak River king salmon could be wiped out with a small accident at the Pebble Mine. |
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The economic value of the Bristol Bay sport and commercial fishery is worth more than $330,000,000 each year. As long as the habitat of this area is left alone, this value should increase into the future. During the time this mine operates and once the mine has taken the gold and copper and finishes its operation, it presents a potential environmental disaster.
These types of mines have a terrible past track record. The risk to the Bristol Bay fishery is not worth the chance that the mine poses. Anglers worldwide should do all they can to see that this mine does not go forward. You may get more information on this issue from the Renewable Resources Coalition, 500 L St., Anchorage, Alaska 99501, 907-743-1900, www.renewableresourcescoalition.org.
Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge owner Brian Kraft has taken a lead position in opposing the Pebble Mine. Contact the lodge at www.fishasl.com or 907-276-7605. Photos courtesy of Jeff Pfaender , who guides for Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge.
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