Bristol Bay’s world-famous fish are made possible by clean water and healthy, connected habitat. © Fly Out Media
Story by Tica Drury
“Can I take the No Pebble Mine sticker off my car yet?”
In my role for Trout Unlimited’s Save Bristol Bay campaign, it’s a question I get asked a lot. Responding evokes a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, it’s unfortunate to have to tell Alaskans that the hard work is not complete. Bristol Bay’s world-renowned salmon and trout are not yet safe. Our relentless advocacy against the proposed Pebble mine must continue. On the other hand, it exposes a silver lining. In a world where declining salmon runs are the rule, it’s good to be the exception. Bristol Bay sockeye salmon continue to return in record-breaking numbers. It’s no surprise Alaskans stand united by an unwavering will to fight to keep it that way.
So, what lies ahead in the battle to protect the most prolific salmon run on the planet?
Our strategy is twofold: defense and offense. Playing defense, it’s our job to protect the good work already done to ensure that the layers of protection that we worked so tirelessly to instate hold up against legal attacks from Pebble and their allies. On the offensive, we are working towards permanent, watershed-wide legislative safeguards.
The region provides outstanding fishing opportunities for salmon and trout. © Fly Out Media
Defense – Insulating Current Safeguards from Legal Attacks
There are two key layers of protection blocking Pebble Mine. Pebble suffered a significant blow in November 2020 when their key permit was denied by the Army Corps of Engineers. They appealed this decision, but the Corps shot it down once again in April 2024.
In January 2023, Pebble took another hit. Fish advocates celebrated a monumental milestone when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized Clean Water Act (CWA) 404(c) safeguards for the waters around the Pebble deposit. After nearly 13 years of Tribal consultation, robust scientific review, and record-breaking numbers of public comments, Alaskans breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the immediate threat of Pebble was stalled.
But like a zombie rising from the dead, Pebble came back. In April 2024, Pebble and the State of Alaska lashed out through a flurry of coordinated lawsuits with the end goal of overturning CWA safeguards. Considering nearly two-thirds of Alaskans, and four-fifths of Bristol Bay residents are against Pebble, it is exceedingly disappointing that the state continues to spend Alaska’s funds propping up a dying mine.
In May 2024, Trout Unlimited, along with many local Tribes, businesses, and organizations, intervened in Pebble’s lawsuit which seeks to overturn CWA safeguards. We will continue to stand with the people and businesses of Bristol Bay who depend on the region’s abundant fisheries and world-renowned recreation opportunities.
This complicated, legal back-and-forth makes one thing clear: This fight won’t stop until Bristol Bay is durably protected by legislative safeguards. This brings us to the next part of the puzzle…
Bristol Bay’s productive rivers are surrounded by many different existing mining claims and areas open to mining development. Map by Trout Unlimited.
Offense – Advocating for Legislative Safeguards
Bristol Bay is safe for now, but if the lawsuits are successful, then it would be incredibly vulnerable once again.
Thankfully, U.S. Representative Mary Peltola introduced a bill to strengthen the protections issued for the headwaters of Bristol Bay in May 2024. The “Bristol Bay Protection Act” would further solidify the EPA’s determination that mining the Pebble deposit would have unacceptable adverse impacts on the fisheries, wildlife, and recreational areas. The bill would congressionally prohibit the discharge of mine waste into rivers, lakes, and wetlands that surround the Pebble deposit. Legislation would solidify these protective measures, making them more difficult to overturn in the future and insulating them from future frivolous lawsuits.
This bill is a great step in the right direction, but the CWA ruling mentioned above only prevents Pebble Mine and there are many more potential mine sites in Bristol Bay. The map shows that CWA safeguards only cover the area surrounding the Pebble deposit (the small black blob in the center right of the map). The entire region—not just the Pebble deposit—needs to be safeguarded from the damaging effects of industrial mining. The next step to ensuring Bristol Bay’s abundant salmon, trophy rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden remain healthy and populous well into the future, is to retire the extensive mining claims across the region.
These moves are bold. They will take significant strategic action and extensive mobilization from the public. Bold doesn’t bother us. This has been a David and Goliath story from the very beginning. For a tale that started out facing off a multinational mining corporation against some XTRATUF-clad fishermen, the story has had a far more fish-friendly outcome than many of us would have imagined. But, the proverbial fish isn’t in the net quite yet. So, what can you do to help?
How Can You Aid in the Battle for Bristol Bay? Join Up!
Greenhorn or old hand, for commercial or sport or subsistence, by fly- or by spin rod, all Alaskans stand united by a singular truth: Salmon is life, and life is worth the fight. We’ll need your help defending Pebble’s attacks and fighting for comprehensive legislative safeguards in Bristol Bay. Heed the call when we ask you to sign petitions, call your representatives, and continue to plaster all vehicles you own with your trusty No Pebble stickers.
Bristol Bay is a land of superlatives: biggest salmon run, biggest trophy trout…We’ll need your help to prevent “biggest open-pit mine in North America” being added to that list.
Trout Unlimited’s mission is to protect, reconnect, and restore North America’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds. Learn about our work in Alaska at prioritywaters.tu.org/alaska. Tica Drury is the Bristol Bay Engagement Manager for Trout Unlimited.
For more conservation reading, check out Fish Alaska’s Conservation Blog for more.