Tale of the Taku

by Peggy Wilcox

At stake is a 7,000-square-mile intact watershed-the Taku. On one side is a Canadian mining corporation. On the other are the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and British Columbia conservationists. Caught in the middle are the salmon.

The Taku is the largest unprotected wilderness river system on the western shore of North America, stretching from Southeast Alaska to the Yukon and bisected by the American/Canadian border, a line drawn from mountain peak tomountain peak along the Coast Range. A recent proposal to reopen a mine and construct a new road in the Taku would carve a lot of lasting lines into this rare blank space on the map.

In 1995, a Canadian-based mining company, Redfern Resources Ltd., purchased the defunct Tulsequah Chief, located at the confluence of the Tulsequah and Taku Rivers. Mining isn't new to the Taku; the area wasactive during the gold rush of 1898, and then again after the 1930's when small-scale mining reappeared along the rich mineral belt which Alaska shares with Canada. In the 1950's, Cominco Corporationoperated the Tulsequah Chief, located about 50 air miles from Juneau. But globally depressed copper prices forced Cominco to close the mine a mere six years after startup. Now Redfern wants to re-open theTulsequah Chief, despite the fact that copper is worth less now, in real terms, than when Cominco gave up on the mine nearly half a century ago.

But this is more than just a mine proposal. If the Tulsequah Chief does start operations, the owners will have a heavy, low-value product, mined from a remote watershed with no road or rail access. Air transport can be cost-effective for gold, with its relatively high value per ounce; but copper isn't worth enough to pay its way. Fifty years ago, Cominco used a water route, barging the ore down the river to Southeast Alaska. But glacial recession and reboundcombined with dramatic floods have played havoc with the Taku. Glacial changes and floods affect channel paths and deposit tons of glacial debris, making the lower part of the river extremely difficult to navigate. From the perspective of Redfern, these inconveniences mean there's only one way to get their copper to market: a road route. Redfern proposes a160 kilometer road route, stretching from Atlin to the Tulsequah Chief minesite, with multiple stream crossings along its course. As we've learned in Southeast Alaska, each river and stream crossing has potentially damaging effects on salmon habitat downstream, and in this case, Alaskans are the neighbors downstream.

All this for a mine that Redfern admits will probably operate for a maximum of ten years. Millions of public dollars and months of construction, just to reach a mediocre ore body that will dry up in ten years? To make the project worthwhile, the proposed road and mine would likely be just the beginning for commercial activity in the Taku. Currently there is no large-scale logging, significant mining, or settlement activity in the watershed, but the Taku is rich in timber and other mineral deposits. With such a wealth of resources, the Taku would be prime territory for new industry. If B.C. carves a new road into the heart of the Taku, clearcuts, more mines, and even more roads wouldn't be far behind.

Today, the orange-colored run-off from the abandoned Tulsequah Chief minesite is clearly visible as you fly from Juneau to Atlin. Acid pollution from the Tulsequah Chief continues to leach toxic sulfuric acid into the river-fifty years after the fact. Draft Reviews of Redfern's proposal by the British Columbia government state that "reactivation of the (mine) could result in chronic discharge of effluent contaminated with acids, heavy metals, petroleum products, and/or toxic reagents." In addition, failure of the proposed tailings impoundment is almost guaranteed: two or three times each summer, melting glaciers cause sudden and extreme floods on the Taku-at times releasing 65 billion gallons of water over a 12 hour period. Release of the mine tailings could have devastating effects on downstream fisheries-fisheries which make millions for Alaskan and Canadian commercial fishermen. At a time when Canada and the United States find themselves at odds over salmon resources, SEACC believes that reopening the mine and potentially endangering salmon runs is irresponsible.

The Atlin-based Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRT) are also dismayed by Redfern's proposal. The Taku is the TRT's traditional land, and they are currently in negotiations with the BC government, seeking redress of their claims. To the TRT, it is an obvious breach of good faith by the provincial government to allow development into the watershed before the issue is settled-especially after they have expressed strong disapproval of road-building in their traditional lands. Coalitions are quickly forming to protect the Taku. The TRT is currently developing a land protection plan for the entire watershed, and they've established alliances with both local and regional environmental groups, including the Taku Wilderness Association (TWA), also based in Atlin. The TWA knows only too well what can happen when roads enter previously unroaded areas: resource after resource is exploited, poaching increases, and the area quickly loses its habitat and wilderness values. Speaking up from the American side of the border, SEACC strongly supports the Taku River Tlingit First Nation's claim to the Taku watershed; any developments conceived for the Taku region should be considered only after the final settlement of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation's treaty negotiations.

Despite our growing knowledge of the value of wild places to the health of the planet,these unique areas are continually sacrificed for short-term industrial development. The Taku stands out as more than special: it is the very last large, unprotected, unroaded watershed on the west coast of North America. If we lose the Taku to roading, mining and logging, the planet will lose an irreplaceable treasure.

Peggy is a grassroots organizer with Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC)

What you can do to help:

The decision on whether the mine project and access road go through is expected in January. Please write to Governor Tony Knowles and express your opposition to mining and road development in the Taku, including concerns about potential impacts on fish, wildlife and Alaska's water quality. Governor Tony Knowles, PO Box 110001, Juneau AK, 99811-0001; fax 907-465-3532