Who will benefit from melting glaciers?

The Tulsequah Glacier, located in northwest British Columbia, near the Alaska border, is retreating rapidly due to climate change. As a result, a new lake has formed at the foot of the glacier, created by the melting ice. This lake, currently too cold and murky for salmon, is expected to become a prime habitat for migrating fish as it warms up and clears out.

Salmon scientists, including Jon Moore from Simon Fraser University, have observed the potential for new salmon grounds to emerge in Alaska and western Canada as more glaciers melt. These new habitats could help mitigate the effects of climate change on salmon populations, such as warming oceans and droughts. Additionally, they could provide a boost to the commercial fishing industry, which is a significant economic driver for the region.

However, the disappearance of glaciers has also attracted the attention of the mining industry. With rising gold prices and increased demand for metals like copper, mining companies are moving into areas previously covered by ice in search of valuable minerals. The Canadian government is investing in infrastructure to support these mining operations, leading to concerns from environmentalists, Indigenous leaders, and fishermen in Alaska.

One major area of concern is the Tulsequah River, a tributary of the Taku River, which supports important salmon runs that sustain commercial fishing businesses in both Canada and Alaska. The Tulsequah River is contaminated with acid runoff from a former gold mine, posing a threat to the local ecosystem. Efforts to clean up the pollution have been ongoing for decades without much success, highlighting the risks associated with mining activities in the region.

Alaska Native leaders and environmental advocates have called for stricter regulations on mining in the area, while some First Nations are working to limit mineral exploration in their traditional territories. However, Canadian officials largely support the mining projects, raising tensions between different stakeholders in the region. The future of the Tulsequah River and other glacier-fed watersheds remains uncertain as the battle between conservation and resource extraction continues.

Over the past 50 years, as glaciers have disappeared and temperatures have risen, Strohn Creek has warmed. And with its new warmth has come a new abundance of salmon. The creek now supports more than 30,000 sockeye each year, according to Koch. It’s one of the most productive sockeye streams in the region. 

This is the kind of transformation that scientists like Sergeant and Moore hope to see more of as climate change alters the landscape. But the change at Strohn Creek is a rare bright spot in a warming world. For every Strohn Creek, there are many Tintinas and Hannas, creeks that are dwindling and warming, pushing fish to the brink. 

In the case of the Tulsequah and nearby watersheds, the prospect of a new mine has environmental groups worried. The legacy of hard rock mining in the region is a cautionary tale — and one that could be repeated if another mine opens. With the potential to harm salmon habitat and impact the delicate balance of ecosystems in the area, the decision to approve a new mine must be carefully considered in light of the environmental consequences.

As the fight to protect salmon and their habitat continues, the stories of creeks like Tintina, Hanna, and Strohn serve as reminders of the fragility and resilience of these iconic fish. The choices we make today will shape the future of salmon and their ecosystems for generations to come.

are staked on or near glaciers, according to research by Moore and Sergeant. These icy landscapes are the headwaters of the region’s rivers and creeks, including Strohn. 

In 2019, Moore and Sergeant published a study pinpointing a mineral claim beneath a glacier feeding Strohn Creek. The claim-holder was Pure Nickel, a small Canadian mining company that also held claims under the Tulsequah Glacier.

“It was our first real-world example of a conflict between mineral exploration and emerging salmon habitat,” Moore said. 

Pure Nickel’s CEO, Jim Anderson, told Grist that the company was no longer interested in the claims. “We just kind of moved on,” he said. 

But since 2019, other companies have staked claims in the same area, including Nickle Mountain Gold and Centerra Gold, according to a review of public records by Grist. These companies are also exploring for minerals under glaciers in the Tulsequah Valley, where Moore’s team identified a new lake forming as the glacier retreats. 

Nickle Mountain Gold did not respond to a request for comment. Centerra Gold told Grist that it has no plans to mine in the area. “We have not initiated any new exploration programs in British Columbia in recent years,” the company said in an email. 

The prospect of mining beneath glaciers may seem like a throwback to the Gold Rush era, but it’s happening in a completely different context, said Moore. In the 1800s, miners needed picks and shovels to hack their way through ice. Today, miners can drill through glaciers with coring rigs that extract long tubes of ice from the rock below. 

The technology is so advanced that miners can even extract minerals from below the Greenland Ice Sheet, according to Moore. 

Yet the cost of mining beneath glaciers can be prohibitive, Moore said. “It’s not easy,” he said. “It’s not cheap.” 

And it’s not just the cost of mining that could get in the way of salmon’s newfound habitat. If a glacier retreats and a mining company stakes a claim, the company may decide to mine for minerals beneath the newly exposed land. That could mean groundwater pollution from mine waste, landslides that bury streams, or accidental releases of toxic mine tailings into salmon-bearing waters. 

“The potential for harm is real,” Moore said. 

It’s difficult to predict exactly how many salmon streams might be impacted by mining in the years ahead, Moore said. But the trend is clear: As glaciers retreat, the industry is moving in.

“I think it’s a matter of time,” Moore said. “We’re going to see more and more of these conflicts emerging.”

The rush to mine beneath melting glaciers in Alaska and British Columbia is driven by the promise of valuable minerals like gold and copper. As glaciers retreat due to climate change, previously inaccessible rock formations are being exposed, attracting the attention of mining companies eager to capitalize on the opportunity.

Geologists are racing to stake claims on land that was once covered by ice, hoping to be the first to explore the untouched resources hidden beneath. Companies like Scottie Resources Corp. and Goliath Resources are drilling into newly exposed bedrock, discovering rich deposits of gold and copper as the glaciers melt away.

For these companies, the melting glaciers are unlocking a treasure trove of minerals that were previously out of reach. By drilling into the rock formations that have been hidden for thousands of years, they are uncovering valuable resources that could potentially lead to profitable mining operations in the future.

Investors are taking notice of the potential for mining in these regions, with over 20 companies already touting the benefits of melting glaciers in their corporate presentations and marketing materials. As demand for metals like copper continues to rise, the allure of mining beneath melting glaciers is only expected to grow.

While the risks associated with mining in these remote and environmentally sensitive areas are high, the potential rewards are also substantial. With government support and favorable tax policies in Canada, these mining companies are forging ahead with their exploration efforts, hoping to strike it rich in the newly exposed rock formations beneath the melting glaciers.

As the race to mine beneath melting glaciers heats up, it remains to be seen how these operations will impact the surrounding environment and local communities. Balancing the economic benefits of mining with the need to protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife habitats will be a key challenge for regulators and stakeholders in the years to come. The commitment of $140 million by Canada’s federal government and British Columbia’s provincial government to upgrade Highway 37 last year was a significant move to support the production of critical minerals. These minerals, such as copper, are essential for national security and renewable energy, as deemed by Canadian officials.

However, concerns have been raised by some Alaskans, including the state’s Republican U.S. senators, about the potential impact of funding for Canadian mines on the U.S. government. There are worries that increased mining upstream from Alaska could endanger the state’s fishing industry. The Biden administration directed tens of millions of dollars towards mineral projects in Canada, citing national security and clean energy priorities.

The Trump administration has not yet confirmed if this funding will continue, but President Trump has shown strong support for mining in Alaska. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order to develop Alaska’s minerals and resources to the fullest extent possible. However, efforts to unravel the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which has spurred mining in both the U.S. and Canada, have raised concerns among analysts.

Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska has called for a halt in sending U.S. taxpayer dollars to Canadian mines, citing past pollution issues. Many Alaska Native leaders have also lobbied against mining in Canada, expressing concerns about threats to traditional food sources like salmon.

Despite these concerns, government regulators and industry representatives argue that mining can be done safely without harming salmon populations. The mining industry also provides vital jobs and revenue for First Nations in the region, such as the Nisga’a and Tahltan, who have made agreements with mining corporations for production royalties and commitments to hire their citizens.

Overall, while there are valid concerns about the potential impacts of mining on the environment and traditional food sources, there are also economic benefits for local communities. Balancing these interests and ensuring responsible mining practices will be crucial for the future of mineral development in the region.

He worries that a mine there could taint the river, which Douglas Indian Association members depend on for food. “If anything should happen to the watershed, then we’re done,” Laiti said. “There’ll be no more fish, and we’ll have to rely on store-bought food.”

The potential impacts of mining on salmon habitat, both in British Columbia and Alaska, have become a point of contention between mining companies, Indigenous communities, environmental groups, and government agencies. As the demand for minerals like copper and gold continues to rise, the push to develop new mines in sensitive ecosystems intensifies.

While mining companies tout the economic benefits of these projects and the importance of these minerals in the transition to a clean energy economy, critics argue that the potential environmental costs are too high. The need to balance economic development with environmental stewardship has become a central issue in the debate over mining in these regions.

As Newmont and Teck move forward with their plans for the Galore Creek mine and Canagold seeks to resurrect the New Polaris mine, the future of these projects will depend on how well they can navigate the complex web of interests and concerns that surround them. Indigenous communities, environmental advocates, and government regulators will all play a role in determining whether these mines can proceed and under what conditions.

The fate of the salmon that inhabit these waters, and the communities that rely on them, hangs in the balance as these mining projects move forward. The decisions made in the coming years will have far-reaching implications for the ecological health of these regions and the well-being of the people who call them home. Balancing the need for economic development with environmental protection will be a key challenge for all involved as they seek to find a path forward that respects the land, the water, and the life that depends on them. Clarence Laiti, president of the Douglas Indian Association, sat at the tribal government’s office building in Juneau, reflecting on the importance of the river to his community. “It’s everybody’s river,” he said, emphasizing the shared connection that all people have to the waterway.

The sentiment of the river belonging to everyone was echoed by the three salmon scientists, Sergeant, Moore, and Brittany Milner, as they conducted research along the Tulsequah River. They unraveled a 30-foot seine fishing net on the beach, hoping to learn more about the habitat and the fish population. Despite not catching any fish on this particular day, they remained committed to their work, sampling different spots along the river in anticipation of seeing fish as the water temperature warmed.

A week later, the researchers returned to check minnow traps they had set in the lake itself. To their surprise, they found a Dolly Varden, a species of char, swimming in the new lake. This discovery marked the first fish they had seen in the lake, sparking excitement and anticipation for more fish to appear in the future.

Milner, one of Moore’s doctoral students, described the encounter with the Dolly Varden as “surreal,” noting how the fish had found a slightly warmer pocket of water in the lake. This observation hinted at the potential for more fish to migrate into the area, especially as the environment continued to change.

While the rest of the traps remained empty of salmon, the presence of the Dolly Varden served as a promising sign for the scientists. They believed that this lone fish was a precursor to a larger influx of fish species in the future, highlighting the interconnectedness of the ecosystem and the impact of environmental changes on wildlife.

As they continued their research and monitoring efforts, the scientists remained hopeful that more fish would return to the river and the lake, reaffirming the importance of protecting and preserving these natural resources for future generations. Just as Clarence Laiti emphasized, the river belongs to everyone, and it is up to all individuals to ensure its health and sustainability for years to come. The world of fashion is ever-evolving, with new trends emerging each season and designers pushing the boundaries of creativity. In recent years, sustainability has become a major focus within the fashion industry, with many brands and designers incorporating eco-friendly practices into their collections.

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