Walleye, northern pike, lake trout, small mouth bass and other fish can be found in abundance in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota. Many an angler has dipped a paddle and wet a line in this epitome of the north woods. A summer camping, canoeing, portaging and fishing trip here is practically a rite of passage in the Midwest. Along with the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters contains 20 percent of all the fresh water in the entire National Forest System. That prized water that supports world-class remote angling is now at risk.
Proposed sulfide-ore copper mining near the wilderness’ edge threatens the abundance of fishing opportunities in the Boundary Waters that attracts anglers from all over the world. This toxic mining practice would harm productive habitats that support fish and game for generations to come.
It’s another case of a foreign-owned mining company seeking to develop an ore body with the potential to cause great harm to one of America’s most iconic remote fishing destinations. The threat is acid mine drainage being released into the interconnected streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater flowing to and through the Boundary Waters.
Every angler is needed to help protect this fishing paradise for future generations to experience. You can help save this national treasure and your next adventure by signing the petition at www.SportsmenfortheBoundaryWaters.org and by telling other anglers or hunters what’s at risk.
Social channels to follow are: www.facebook.com/sportsmenforthebwca, www.twitter.com/sportsmenbwca, and www.instagram.com/sportsmenbwca.
3 Comments
Don’t forget the threat to the St. Louis River witch has its headwaters in the proposed mining area. This river is the largest trib to Lake Superior and supplies drinking water for a number of towns down river.
Read this item with great concern, as one who enjoys wild spaces in America. Without severe constraints there is a serious risk of damage. Question is how far would it spread and what could be affected? Recent research in the UK shows that post mineral operations, where we have 2000 years of historical mining, the genetic makeup of fish is altered! Warning enough I think! . The other major concern must be the leeching into the substrata of contaminated (toxic?) water. Setting constraints on the process is not sufficient there has to be strict enforcement – which begs the question of by whom and at what cost?
It seems Canada has discovered that the U.S. is for sale cheap. The XL Pipeline, Bristol Bay, Boundary Waters and most projects that are sketchy on keeping our resources healthy are all brought to you care of Canadian corporations. They seem to know which American politicians palm to grease so they can have their way with our land and water.
With all of that land in Canada one would think they could find places on their own soil to mine. Could it be they find us pushovers when a little cash is offered?
We has met the enemy and he is us!