In a recent article for The Osprey, an international journal dedicated to salmon and steelhead conservation, Rivers Without Borders Taku Watershed Conservation Campaigner Kayla Heidenreich explores the challenges and opportunities facing the Taku watershed. From its extraordinary ecological and cultural significance to the ongoing pollution from the long-abandoned Tulsequah Chief mine and the proposed New Polaris gold mine, the article highlights what is at stake for one of N

Here is the latest edition of Taku Trails. The transboundary region has been a hot topic recently, and most significantly, the public comment period for the proposed New Polaris gold mine in the Taku watershed is now open. Current estimates call for approximately 225 barge/landing craft round-trips during the three-year construction phase, all of which to happen June - September, with over 3,000 flights in and out of Juneau annually. Plans include underground mining, ore proc

The Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) project, owned by Seabridge Gold Inc., is a large-scale gold-copper-silver mine proposed for northwest British Columbia. Targeting a massive low-grade sulfide ore deposit, the mine is situated within the headwaters of the Bell-Irving tributary of the Nass River and the Unuk River, which ultimately flows into the Misty Fjords National Monument in Southeast Alaska. Seabridge Gold has described KSM as one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold

Happy New Year from those of us at RWB. We hope you enjoy Taku Trails Issue 2.

Taku Trails is a platform meant to connect the diverse community bound together by our shared love for the Taku watershed—those who care about, depend on, and find joy in this place. That includes First Nations, Tribes, commercial fishermen, sport fishermen, cabin owners, hunters, conservation organizations, elected officials, Juneau residents, and all lovers of wild places. Although the Taku remains one of the few fully intact and thriving watersheds on the planet, it bears

British Columbia recently awarded the KSM mine project with a “substantially started” determination, essentially making its Environmental Certificate good indefinitely. As RWB’s new briefer on this subject [linked here] explains, there is irony in this determination because it essentially makes moot one particularly commendable aspect of BC’s mining oversight; that being that when a development project does go forward, its Certificate should be relatively recently issued an

Rivers Without Borders has produced a new briefer about the proposed KSM gold – copper mine targeting headwaters of the Unuk River near Misty Fjords National Monument. It focuses on the extraordinary amount of waste KSM would generate if the project goes forward. Obviously the metal the mine produces – principally gold for many years to come – would be very valuable, but because it’s very low grade, the waste side of the equation is mind boggling. Another reason to question

The proposed KSM mine targeting the Unuk and Nass Rivers headwaters poses a big environmental threat to the southern transboundary region. The gigantic project with unprecedented technical challenges is a major Rivers Without Borders concern. Two new briefers, posted below, summarize some basic concerns and highlight the proposal’s focus on gold. We will continue efforts to provide information on KSM as best we can as the proposal certainly warrants a close look. KSM brief

Rivers Without Borders has produced several updated Taku briefers. We have kept them short, because the issues they cover are simple ... First and foremost, it’s time for British Columbia to follow through on its now nine year old commitment to get the Tulsequah Chief mine closed and cleaned up. The government has taken some commendable preliminary steps toward the long awaited remediation, and planning is ongoing, but it’s time for action. And second, we believe it is

Rivers Without Borders continues to track the KSM mine development threat looming over the southern Alaska – British Columbia transboundary region. Our white paper was recently updated relative to the evolving nature of the huge and controversial mine proposal including its new emphasis on gold production rather than strategic metals as is currently being promoted. We intend to continue monitoring the project and revising this paper as changes in the proposal dictate.

The proposed Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell or KSM mine targeting the Unuk and Nass watersheds would be a gigantic development posing a huge threat to the environmental values of the Alaska – British Columbia southern transboundary region. Rivers Without Borders has prepared a paper assessing the KSM threat and its implications. While we lack capacity to give this issue the attention it deserves, we are doing what we can to keep a spotlight on the threat and keep downstream Tribe

We're excited to share this passionate, illuminating, and inspiring conversation between Rivers Without Borders' Alaska Campaign Director, Chris Zimmer, and Ayana Young, host of For The Wild Podcast. From the impacts of acid rock drainage and inter-governmental relations, to the long and sordid history of the Tulsequah Chief mine and the need for mining reform in BC, Chris showcases his extensive knowledge of the transboundary region, and his decades of professional experienc

In Episode #13 of the Save What You Love podcast, our Alaska Campaign Director Chris Zimmer joins filmmaker Mark Titus to discuss the ongoing Tulsequah Chief mine controversy. Chris brings 20 years of insight and experience to this issue. We thank him for his ongoing passion and his commitment to saving a place that he loves! There is a tremendous opportunity for the proposed remediation plan to become a real win for the spectacular Taku watershed. However, seeing the promise

Rivers Without Borders contracted mining expert Jim Kuipers of Kuipers and Associates to analyze technical and economic aspects of the Constantine Metals mine exploration project above the Chilkat's Klehini River headwaters. As summarized here and detailed here, the review of Constantine's Preliminary Economic Assessment highlights environmental and financial risks and uncertainties, calling to question the economic premise on which this controversial Chilkat mining venture i