On January 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the disposal of mine waste associated with the Pebble deposit in southwest Alaska. The mine could have become one of the largest open pit mines in the world and would have imperiled Earth’s last great salmon run. The EPA’s decision is a great victory for the Bristol Bay region and its salmon.
Seventy-nine million salmon returned collectively to Bristol Bay in 2022, setting a new record high for the region. Bristol Bay’s wholly intact watersheds make this possible. Water flows freely from snowmelt-fed rivulets and springs high in the mountains through the chains of lakes that occupy glacially-carved basins and into the lower stems of rivers that empty into the Bering Sea. Adult salmon swim upstream without encountering human-made obstructions or water diversions. And, instead of being displaced by shore-line hardening structures to protect buildings or roads, such as it is throughout much of the U.S. west coast, billions of salmon fry in Bristol Bay find ample refuge in the slack-waters along stream margins, grassy marshes, and lakes. Vast numbers of salmon don’t even see a bridge during their entire lives. The diversity and health of the watersheds make Bristol Bay whole.
I was late to the Pebble fight, only learning about the proposed mine in 2007 during my first summer as a park ranger in Katmai National Park. But many people in the Bristol Bay region have been advocating against Pebble Mine for 20 years. I hope the fishing boat captains and their deck hands; Alaska Native Tribes, village councils, and coalitions; lodge owners, employees, and fishing guides; chefs; scientists; those who work for non-profit and conservation organizations; and many others have the opportunity to rest well for at least a few days now that the threat of the mine is no longer looming. I thank them for their work.
Before I had the fortune of living in the Bristol Bay area, I did not understand—or even fathom—the importance of salmon to place and people. The calendar in Bristol Bay is centered on salmon. The region’s economy is centered on salmon. Its ecology is centered on salmon. And it works, beautifully.
I’ve said many times before that our world is wounded. Too much of humanity seems to have a unique desire and capability to consume land, habitats, material without considering the rights of other creatures or the value that future generations of people might place on those things. I wish I could take everyone to Bristol Bay at the height of the summertime salmon run to see the fishing fleet and processors, to stand on the edge of a river while tens of thousands of salmon swim upstream, to watch brown bears gorge on their most important and sought-after food, to see an ecosystem functioning at its fully realized potential. It just might change your perspective on what should be and what is possible for our world.
Wandering at Large 
Wow! What a victory, thank you for sharing that great news!
My husband and I enjoy your work and commentary on Explore.org and in your writings. We also loved your book about the bears at Brooks Falls and hope to visit there in person someday. It was wonderful to read that the salmon are thriving (annd will continue to thrive) and that last year was the biggest run recorded!
Thank you!
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It’s about time those two did something useful.
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Thanks so much Mike for sharing your thoughts! This is just the best news ever! A lot of us have been celebrating the good news all week. If humans valued all living things equally the planet might have a fighting chance, but our need to take and control seems to be insatiable. As statements have come out from Pebble’s John Shively and Governor Dunleavy declaring they will fight this decision, we all have to be prepared to support the many groups who have been in this fight for decades. Alaska’s Native Tribes have had this fight hanging over their heads for so many years and they never gave up. I really hope they are celebrating now. If/when the fight returns, the Explore warriors for Bristol Bay (my name for our bear chatters) will be ready to speak up to protect our beloved bears, salmon and the pristine ecosystem that is Bristol Bay.
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Wonderful news indeed
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Hi Mike,
I’ve been fighting this battle for several yers. Got the wonderful news a few days ago. I just don’t get why it took 20 years for the EPA to reject this Canadian mine. It was abundantly clear to me from Day 1 that it would contaminate the water and destroy the salmon runs affecting the native population, fishing industry and our wonderful bears and be a serious destructive force to our pristine Alaskan environment. If they are so focused on destruction, let Pebble Mine do it in their own back yard – Canada. Not that I think it’s a good idea anywhere. Somehow, I’m sure we will need to continue fighting these battles to save our water, our wildlife, our country and our planet.
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Hi Mike Really terrific news! This coupled with the day of celebration for the life of P-22 here in LA really gives hope for a respectful partnership between humans and all other creatures. I thought of you when Raul Campos, a DJ at KCRW 89.9 here in LA, just played a song from The Chemical Brothers called Salmon Dance. I think you would enjoy it. I also want to say how much I enjoyed your book, esp. the fascinating chapter about salmon. I have read it twice now and since I, along with many others, are in the midst of bear longing, I think I will go for a third time. My boyfriend was a passionate fly fisherman. but we never spoke about the courageous salmon. I have learned so much from the talks, play by play and just everything you and the rangers give us every season. I began watching during the COVID lockdown and now Katmai and the Decorah Eagle cams are part of my life. So I send you my deep respect and thanks, Jackie O’Dell >
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Mike your Comments are beyond always so
Perfectly said & thought out, we all have
The Biggest Thank You’s for all your
Hard Work , along with all the Rangers
To make Katmai, plus the whole entire
Ocean a Now Safe Place for many Years to come
They say it takes a Village to Help so many
Thank You’s for to Everyones Tireless Work
On stopping Pebble Mine , Just so sorry
Took it 20 years long
It’s such a Shame to loose so much land
In areas that Animals Strive in,
If we don’t Speak up for what’s right for
The Salmons & many other Fish & Animals &
Our Economy they’d win
That we Alaskans depend on
As this Brings me to my next item
Of STOPPING NPS with all of us speaking
To keep Saving our Beloved Bears & Wolves
From Be Hunted , Trapped & Baited
My thoughts always go to 2014 Your self & so many other Rangers , on a Huge Mission to
Save our Gorgeous 854 Divot from a
Snare . Always Grateful for what you all did to Save Divots life that day,
So it’s like a New Challenge to hear all our
Voices loud & clear to not allow any
Animals to be hurt in any Alaska State Parks
It Opens a Door of Evil I call it.
With Millions of people visiting our Great
State they come to see the Animals in our
Beautiful Parks ,
they don’t want to hear of our Beautiful Animals
Being Hunted ,
All Animals should be Safe in there own
Settings
I’m Hoping you Can do a Live Chat about
This quickly?? Since we have till
March 10 th ,to Tell NPS keep our Animals
Safe , as this would Jeopardize the Best
Of Breeders to Continue
Thank You very much Mike for all you
& everyone else does to make this World a better place
Always The Biggest Thank You to our
Charlie for bringing us our Daily Cams to
Enjoy so so many Beautiful Animals to watch
It’s a Huge Eye Opener of what everyone needs
To do for keeping Natural Setting for all
The Critters in the World they need our Protection & they need there land to continue
To Strive
We Dearly Love these Cams Charlie
Thank You 🥰🐻
Terri in Wasilla
Hunting Trapping & Baiting in our Alaska Parks
It seems there’s always a next fight to
Have to Win
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Wonderful news! Thanks for sharing,Mike!!
Sent from my iPad
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