Northern Dynasty Files Water Request

Mining company Northern Dynasty has applied for water rights on two important sockeye salmon spawning rivers in the Bristol Bay region. The rivers are also the location of some of the state's best rainbow-trout fishing.

Northern Dynasty Mines Inc., plans to develop a copper and gold prospect called Pebble mine [see Alaska's Pebble Mine, by John Randolph. The Editor.] and has now filed papers with the state seeking water rights to the north and south fork of the Koktuli River and Upper Talarik Creek. If the water rights are granted, the company could pump water from the two rivers into the mine's tailings pond.

The headwaters of both the Koktuli and Upper Talarik flow near Iliamna Lake in Southwest Alaska. The Pebble deposit lies between them on state land.

The Koktuli feeds the Mulchatna River, which drains into the Nushagak, one of seven major rivers that flow into salmon-rich Bristol Bay. Upper Talarik feeds the Kvichak. Over the last century, the Kvichak has produced more than a third of Bristol Bay's sockeye harvest, according to biologists. The Nushagak is the state's biggest producer of king salmon.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates that last year's Bristol Bay commercial salmon catch netted fishermen $93 million.

Trout Unlimited announced July 20 that it will ask the State of Alaska to reject Northern dynasty's water rights request.

"Northern Dynasty wants the water from Upper Talarik Creek and the Upper and Lower Koktuli Rivers; so do the fish and we’re siding with the fish and all of those who depend on them," says Trout Unlimited Southwest Alaska/Bristol Bay programs director Brian Kraft.

Tribal governments representing the Bristol Bay area Native communities of Ekwok and Nondalton, the International Federation of Fly Fishers, the Editor of Fly Fisherman magazine, and leaders of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry joined TU in blasting the Canadian company’s plans.

"Our village depends on these rivers and this action by Northern Dynasty is a direct threat to our culture and our way of life.” says Richard King, Ekwok Village Council Administrator. Ekwok is downstream from the proposed Pebble Mine on the Nushagak River.

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