Help Save the South Fork of the Salmon River

Say HELL NO to an open pit gold mine on the South Fork of the Salmon River. Meg Matheson photo.

Despite being adored by kayakers, rafters, anglers, and hikers, and home to incredible wildlife, Idaho's South Fork of the Salmon River in might be the new home of a massive open-pit gold mine. Two Canadian companies—Midas Gold Corporation and Barrick Gold—are proposing to operate an open gold mine right in the headwaters of the South Fork, risking irreversible damage to this fragile high-elevation environment. 

Their plan is to divert the East Fork from its channel, create three massive pits, and use three miles worth of public land for industrial development. The extraction will not only damage the river with the release of cyanide, arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals, but the mine’s profits won’t even benefit the local community. Instead, most of the money will trickle back into the hands of these Canadian corporations at the expense of our public lands, waterways, and ecosystems.

Are you angry yet? Just wait, there's more. 

RELATED: Comment on the Salmon River Gold Mine Project

The mine will also risk the habitat of federally protected and endangered Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout which need clean, clear, and cold water to thrive. The development of the mine also blatantly disregards the treaty between the Nez Perce tribe and the U.S. Government. The South Fork of the Salmon is part of the Nez Perce’s territory, and the U.S. Government has sworn to help to preserve that land.

Thankfully, the gold mine isn’t set in stone just yet. The plan is open for public commenting until October 13th, meaning you have a chance to share what the Salmon means to you and why it should stay protected. Please keep in mind that the forest service is asking for "substantive" comments, so two quick sentences won't cut it. Do a little bit of research and bring some facts to the table. Write out a few paragraphs like you're back in AP English, and when you’re finished, run it through a spell checker. Sounds reasonable, right? So, grab your friends, co-workers, and neighbors and getting writing because the Forest Services needs to hear loud and clear why the Salmon is worth preserving. 

Comment on the Salmon River Gold Mine Project

Here's what TGR's Meg Matheson had to say on the matter, having spent many seasons guiding on the river herself. 

The Salmon River is extraordinary. No other Western River of such volume and gradient is so nearly intact. While the natural seasonal rhythms of many other rivers have been erased, the Salmon and its tributaries remain wild and free. It is both one-of-a-kind and the last of its kind. Having guided on the Main Salmon, I’ve spent many moons along its nearly pristine banks. I’ve witnessed lives change through the river trips and experiences it provides, mine included. It is beloved by many: rafters, fishermen, hunters, land conservation employees, and more. While it attracts all walks of life, the love for this river system remains the common ground for all. But this area serves a purpose far more important than recreation, it supplies habitat for endangered salmon and trout. These already threatened species of fish need the clean water of the Salmon to thrive. The environmental impact of re-opening pit mining would be catastrophic and irreversible. No precious metals are worth further harming this unique and fragile ecosystem.

- Meg Matheson, TGR Social Ambassador Coordinator

When a place is as beautiful as the Salmon it ought to be protected. Meg Matheson photo.

About The Author

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stash member Katie Lozancich

TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.