The Bristol Bay (AK) watershed provides almost half of the world’s wild Sockeye Salmon. Recently, lucrative mineral deposits of copper and gold have been discovered adjacent to the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers of this watershed. This has become a source of tension between those interested in the economic opportunities the mines offer, and those concerned with the health of the salmon population. We plan to explore the policy solutions that could reconcile financial, ecological, and cultural priorities in the area.
Sources:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/names/r10_2014-1-15_final_bristol_bay_assessment
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121116-bristol-bay-alaska-salmon-gold-pebble-mine-science-nation/
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