The Pebble Blog : Maintaining water for fish

The Pebble Blog

The gigantic Pebble copper and gold prospect in Southwest Alaska is one of the touchiest topics in Alaska today.

In this blog, I'll track news that is significant or interesting about the Pebble project. I'll also try to generate discussion and information sharing about some of the claims and counterclaims about the project, and mining in general.

Please keep your comments courteous and on topic. If you violate the ADN comment policy, your posts will be deleted.

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About Elizabeth Bluemink ebluemink@adn.com

I've been writing about mining in Alaska since 2004 and without a doubt, it is one of the most interesting topics that I cover at the Daily News. I've been a newspaper reporter for the past 10 years. In the Deep South, I specialized in reporting about environmental conflicts and pollution cleanups. For two years, I covered commercial fishing, mining and logging in Southeast Alaska. In my current job as a Daily News business reporter, I write about mining, tourism, Native corporations and other businesses.

Maintaining water for fish

Posted by Elizabeth Bluemink

Posted: August 10, 2009 - 1:44 pm

Here's an interesting story published in the Chilkat Valley News last week that sheds some light on how state regulators are interpreting their duty to protect fish habitat. It may trigger some blog readers' reflection on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's role in maintaining adequate water for fish in the Bristol Bay region.

Here's the lede of the story:

Mining groups, a tribal organization, and some residents say they are concerned about an application by state Department of Fish and Game to appropriate minimum water flow levels in the Klehini River to maintain fish habitat.

If granted, the water reservation would require minimum in-stream flow levels to be met for fish habitat before water is appropriated for other uses.

Opponents say reserving flows at the levels requested would prevent any development requiring water, such as a mine, but Fish and Game officials say the water reservation leaves room for additional future uses as well as preserving what is required for healthy fish runs.