A panel discussion with important stakeholders about the threat of B.C. mining operations to transboundary watersheds, salmon & communities.

There’s a long history of concern over downstream pollution from British Columbia mining activity to U.S. watersheds. From the proposed Imperial Metals mine in the Skagit River watershed and the Teck Resources smelter in the Columbia River watershed of Washington to the Tulsequah Chief mine in the Taku River watershed of Alaska, Canada’s lax mining regulations pose a real threat to downstream rivers, salmon, and communities.

In recent years, calls from U.S. tribes, Canadian First Nations, and local, state, provincial and federal leaders, non-governmental stakeholders, and concerned citizens on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border have called for both countries to work together to prevent mine pollution of transboundary waters, and for Canada to update antiquated mining laws and regulations.

Conservation Northwest and Salmon Beyond Borders will co-host a panel discussion with representatives from tribes and First Nations, lawmakers, government officials, the science community and other important stakeholders on this issue.

Most recently, Imperial Metals proposed to mine in the Skagit Headwaters, home to Puget Sound’s healthiest remaining runs of wild salmon and steelhead, vital food for southern resident orca whales as well as cherished resources for Native American nations and other local communities. This company was responsible for the infamous B.C. Mount Polley mine disaster of 2014, spilling more than 6.6 billion gallons of toxic sludge into the Fraser River watershed—one of the biggest environmental disasters in Canadian history.

There will be a chance for Q&A on the issue of Canadian mine pollution on transboundary watersheds, so bring your questions for the panelists to answer. To learn more in advance, please visit: conservationnw.org/healthy-watersheds-campaign/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-skagit-wa-bc-transboundary-rive…