In this Place: A Review of Salmon Habitat and Risk in Bristol Bay

Long-term Sustainability: Bristol Bay’s annual sockeye salmon run has averaged 40 million fish over the past 20 years. E

Global Asset: Bristol Bay is home to 51 percent of the wild sockeye salmon on the planet.A

Blue Ribbon: “some of the premier fly-fishing rivers on earth.”C

The Nature Conservancy in Alaska715 L Street, Suite 100Anchorage, Alaska 99501nature.org/alaska

Mining Claims

Nushagak River

Kvichak River

Lake Iliamna

Naknek

Our ResolutionTo protect a globally significant wild salmon resource, The Nature Conservancy sets a high bar for large-scale developments in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds. The Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska, based on an under-standing of the risks and the state of current, proven mining technology, agreed that large-scale mining in these critical watersheds at this time presents an inappropriate risk to the salmon systems of the region. They noted that a very high bar is necessary in this region and suggested criteria that should form the foundation of that bar. Specifi-cally, they recommended that in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds, mining and other activities not be allowed that:

n destroy or impair wild salmon habitat, such that the sustained abundance in the watersheds is placed at significant riskn require water withdrawals that may exceed ecological flow needs for fish and wildlifen need active management in perpetuity to avoid environmental contamination1

n result in acid mine drainage that cannot be eliminated by proven methods and technology established at comparable sites and scale2

1 By “active management” we do not mean long‐term monitoring or correcting unforeseen problems, both of which are required by law. The intent is to avoid planned management such as active mechanical and water quality management systems that must be maintained in perpetuity.2 It is important to note that by “comparable sites and scale” we do not mean “identical.” The intent is to find a project with similar geological, hydrologic, and meteorological conditions at a scale relevant for comparison purposes.

The Nature Conservancy will work together with local communities, state and federal agencies, businesses and other stakeholders to further refine and characterize this higher bar for large-scale mining in Bristol Bay such that the vitality, abundance and diversity of these salmon systems is maintained.

Footnotes from cover:A. Ruggerone, G.T., R.M. Peterman, B. Dorner, and K.W. Myers. 2010. Magnitude and trends in abundance of hatchery and wild pink salmon, chum salmon, and sockeye salmon in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 2:306-328.B. Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area PlanC. Fly-fishing Alaska’s Wild Rivers by Dan HeinerD. Alaska Department of Fish and GameE. Schindler, et al. 2010. Population diversity and the portfolio effect in an exploited species. Nature (465) 609-612.

Nushagak River

Bristol Bay

Dillingham

nature.org/alaska0412

The Nushagak and Kvichak rivers produce 25% of of the wild sockeye

salmon on the planet.

Cultural Backbone: 7,000 years of salmon subsistence tradition.B

Growing Market: The ex-vessel value of the 2010 Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery was more than $153 million.D

Where the Wild Sockeye Salmon Are

Important Research and Analysis HighlightsThe headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers are a very fishy place: n Conservancy field crews discovered fish in 97 percent of streams surveyed;n Salmon were present in 74 percent of the streams surveyed, including 105 miles of streams where salmon were not known previously. This suggests that numerous other salmon streams remain undocumented and, therefore, lack the protections reserved for salmon habitat by Alaska state law;n A combination of geological, hydrological, and climatic factors mean a mining site in this region is highly likely to generate acid mine drainage.n A large-scale pollution event, such as a tailings dam failure, though highly uncertain, could be catastrophic;n Risks related to acid mine drainage and the safety and stability of tailings and waste storage facilities would likely continue in perpetuity, requiring a perpetual commitment of mitigation and remediation resources.

Recent publicationsn ADF&G Instream Flow and Lake Level (Reservation of Water) Protection Report—2007n Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area Conservation Plan—2008n Baseline Surface Water Quality near the Proposed Pebble Mine, Alaska— Nushagak, Kvichak and Chulitna Drainage headwaters—2010n Prioritizing Alaska’s Watersheds to Complete Baseline Inventories of Freshwater Habitats Used by Anadromous Fish—2010n Influence of Large Glacially Carved Lakes on Upstream Fish Assemblagesn Water Balance Issues for the Proposed Pebble Mine—2010 n Hydrologic Analysis of the Pebble Deposit Area, Alaska—2010 n Instream Flow Reports-Upper Talarik Creek, South Fork Koktuli, North Fork Koktuli, Kaskanak Creek and Lower Talarik Creek—2010n Fish Surveys in Headwater Streams of the Nushagak and Kvichak River Drainages, Bristol Bay, Alaska, 2008-2010—2010n An Assessment of Ecological Risk to Wild Salmon Systems from Large-scale Mining in the Nushagak and Kvichak Watersheds of the Bristol Bay Basin—2010

Nature and Industry Run on Salmon in Bristol Bay

Salmon Mean Business D

n Rank of wild sockeye salmon among the most economically valuable U.S. commercial fisheries from 1950-2008: 1n Landed value, in dollars, of the sockeye salmon fishery in the same time period: $7,900,000,000n Portion of this revenue attributed to the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery: 63%

Salmon Science: Seeking Answers about Risks to Salmon

Keeping Salmon SafeOur research team nominated 105 miles of previously undocumented

salmon streams to the Alaska Anadromous Waters Catalog. Additional

stream habitat remains undocumented and, therefore, without the

protections reserved for salmon habitat by the State of Alaska.Each stage of the salmon life cycle depends on distinct habitat types throughout the Bristol Bay watershed.

The Salmon Life Cycle

EGGSHatch in about 3 months.

ALEVINFeeds off yolk sac for several weeks.

FRY5 to 10 weeks old and swimmimg.

PARRSeveral months old.Develops “finger” markings.

SMOLT1-3 years old. Will group and head out to sea.

ADULTSpends 1 to 8 years at sea.

SPAWNING ADULTSpawn and die within 2 weeks.

Other Bristol Bay (26%)

Kvichak and Nushagak / Wood River Systems

(25%)

Other (3%)SE Alaska (2%)

Other Russia (2%)

Copper River and PWS (3%)

Kenai River / Cook Inlet (5%)

Fraser River (11%)Alaska Peninsula (6%)

Kodiak Island (6%)

Kamchatka (6%)

Other BC (2%)Skeena River (3%)

Bristol Bay is home to 51% of the wild sockeye salmon on the planet – and the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers alone are home to 25% of that total.

2010 Our risk assessment is published, providing a framework for science-based, thoughtful discussions about the effect of proposed large-scale mining on the salmon resource.

1995 The Nature Conservancy partners with the Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources and Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in a key land purchase to protect the famed trophy rainbow trout waters of Lower Talarik Creek.

2000 The Conservancy helps found the Nushagak-Mulchatna Wood-Tikchik Land Trust.

2003 The Nushagak and Kvichak river watersheds identified as a Wild Salmon Ecosystems priority for the Conservancy.

2004 The Nature Conservancy completes its Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula Ecoregional Assessment, aiding conservation planning.

2004 High intensity of mineral exploration in headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak raises concerns for salmon resources.

2006 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska, who come from backgrounds in business, industry, and academia, issue a cautionary statement noting “we perceive a high level of potential risk to the region’s fish and wildlife” in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds.

2008 Residents of the Nushagak River villages of New Stuyahok, Ekwok, Koliganek, and Dillingham, Bristol Bay Native Association, and The Nature Conservancy complete the “Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area Conservation Plan.”

2008 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska recommended we develop a risk framework to assess the risk to salmon from large-scale mining in the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

2008 The Conservancy launches a $2.5 million salmon science program.

2010 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska issues a resolution based on findings of our research program.

Since 2001, the Conservancy and other members of the Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership have invested millions of dollars to conserve wild salmon habitat by purchasing land and easements protecting more than 94,000 acres. When a large gold and copper dis-covery was announced in 2004, the Conservancy shifted its focus from conservation acquisitions in Southwest Alaska to researching the risks to salmon systems posed by large-scale mining operations. The Nature Conservancy is leading a multi-year fact-finding process and is committed to the open sharing of research findings. Our ecological risk assessment, a document that builds on years of research, is a first approach at evaluating the inherent risks of large scale mining in theheadwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

Timeline of Events 1995-2011

2 0 1 02 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 1

2011 Nushagak-Mulchatna Watershed Council adopts the Conservancy’s resolution on large-scale mining in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds..

2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 9

The Nature Conservancy Scientific Research and AnalysisBeginning in 2008, the Conservancy’s salmon science program began to investigate key questions related to:n Fish distribution in the region of proposed large-scale mining;n Hydrology, to understand the exchange of water between surface water and groundwater;n Baseline water quality; n Aquatic insects and other invertebrate species, indicators of environmental health and forage for developing salmon;n In-stream water flows necessary for fish to survive and thrive.

1 9 9 5 1 9 9 8

1998 The Conservancy assists residents in forming the Nushagak-Mulchatna Watershed Council.

Where the Wild Sockeye Salmon Are

Important Research and Analysis HighlightsThe headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers are a very fishy place: n Conservancy field crews discovered fish in 97 percent of streams surveyed;n Salmon were present in 74 percent of the streams surveyed, including 105 miles of streams where salmon were not known previously. This suggests that numerous other salmon streams remain undocumented and, therefore, lack the protections reserved for salmon habitat by Alaska state law;n A combination of geological, hydrological, and climatic factors mean a mining site in this region is highly likely to generate acid mine drainage.n A large-scale pollution event, such as a tailings dam failure, though highly uncertain, could be catastrophic;n Risks related to acid mine drainage and the safety and stability of tailings and waste storage facilities would likely continue in perpetuity, requiring a perpetual commitment of mitigation and remediation resources.

Recent publicationsn ADF&G Instream Flow and Lake Level (Reservation of Water) Protection Report—2007n Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area Conservation Plan—2008n Baseline Surface Water Quality near the Proposed Pebble Mine, Alaska— Nushagak, Kvichak and Chulitna Drainage headwaters—2010n Prioritizing Alaska’s Watersheds to Complete Baseline Inventories of Freshwater Habitats Used by Anadromous Fish—2010n Influence of Large Glacially Carved Lakes on Upstream Fish Assemblagesn Water Balance Issues for the Proposed Pebble Mine—2010 n Hydrologic Analysis of the Pebble Deposit Area, Alaska—2010 n Instream Flow Reports-Upper Talarik Creek, South Fork Koktuli, North Fork Koktuli, Kaskanak Creek and Lower Talarik Creek—2010n Fish Surveys in Headwater Streams of the Nushagak and Kvichak River Drainages, Bristol Bay, Alaska, 2008-2010—2010n An Assessment of Ecological Risk to Wild Salmon Systems from Large-scale Mining in the Nushagak and Kvichak Watersheds of the Bristol Bay Basin—2010

Nature and Industry Run on Salmon in Bristol Bay

Salmon Mean Business D

n Rank of wild sockeye salmon among the most economically valuable U.S. commercial fisheries from 1950-2008: 1n Landed value, in dollars, of the sockeye salmon fishery in the same time period: $7,900,000,000n Portion of this revenue attributed to the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery: 63%

Salmon Science: Seeking Answers about Risks to Salmon

Keeping Salmon SafeOur research team nominated 105 miles of previously undocumented

salmon streams to the Alaska Anadromous Waters Catalog. Additional

stream habitat remains undocumented and, therefore, without the

protections reserved for salmon habitat by the State of Alaska.Each stage of the salmon life cycle depends on distinct habitat types throughout the Bristol Bay watershed.

The Salmon Life Cycle

EGGSHatch in about 3 months.

ALEVINFeeds off yolk sac for several weeks.

FRY5 to 10 weeks old and swimmimg.

PARRSeveral months old.Develops “finger” markings.

SMOLT1-3 years old. Will group and head out to sea.

ADULTSpends 1 to 8 years at sea.

SPAWNING ADULTSpawn and die within 2 weeks.

Other Bristol Bay (26%)

Kvichak and Nushagak / Wood River Systems

(25%)

Other (3%)SE Alaska (2%)

Other Russia (2%)

Copper River and PWS (3%)

Kenai River / Cook Inlet (5%)

Fraser River (11%)Alaska Peninsula (6%)

Kodiak Island (6%)

Kamchatka (6%)

Other BC (2%)Skeena River (3%)

Bristol Bay is home to 51% of the wild sockeye salmon on the planet – and the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers alone are home to 25% of that total.

2010 Our risk assessment is published, providing a framework for science-based, thoughtful discussions about the effect of proposed large-scale mining on the salmon resource.

1995 The Nature Conservancy partners with the Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources and Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in a key land purchase to protect the famed trophy rainbow trout waters of Lower Talarik Creek.

2000 The Conservancy helps found the Nushagak-Mulchatna Wood-Tikchik Land Trust.

2003 The Nushagak and Kvichak river watersheds identified as a Wild Salmon Ecosystems priority for the Conservancy.

2004 The Nature Conservancy completes its Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula Ecoregional Assessment, aiding conservation planning.

2004 High intensity of mineral exploration in headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak raises concerns for salmon resources.

2006 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska, who come from backgrounds in business, industry, and academia, issue a cautionary statement noting “we perceive a high level of potential risk to the region’s fish and wildlife” in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds.

2008 Residents of the Nushagak River villages of New Stuyahok, Ekwok, Koliganek, and Dillingham, Bristol Bay Native Association, and The Nature Conservancy complete the “Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area Conservation Plan.”

2008 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska recommended we develop a risk framework to assess the risk to salmon from large-scale mining in the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

2008 The Conservancy launches a $2.5 million salmon science program.

2010 The board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska issues a resolution based on findings of our research program.

Since 2001, the Conservancy and other members of the Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership have invested millions of dollars to conserve wild salmon habitat by purchasing land and easements protecting more than 94,000 acres. When a large gold and copper dis-covery was announced in 2004, the Conservancy shifted its focus from conservation acquisitions in Southwest Alaska to researching the risks to salmon systems posed by large-scale mining operations. The Nature Conservancy is leading a multi-year fact-finding process and is committed to the open sharing of research findings. Our ecological risk assessment, a document that builds on years of research, is a first approach at evaluating the inherent risks of large scale mining in theheadwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

Timeline of Events 1995-2011

2 0 1 02 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 1

2011 Nushagak-Mulchatna Watershed Council adopts the Conservancy’s resolution on large-scale mining in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds..

2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 9

The Nature Conservancy Scientific Research and AnalysisBeginning in 2008, the Conservancy’s salmon science program began to investigate key questions related to:n Fish distribution in the region of proposed large-scale mining;n Hydrology, to understand the exchange of water between surface water and groundwater;n Baseline water quality; n Aquatic insects and other invertebrate species, indicators of environmental health and forage for developing salmon;n In-stream water flows necessary for fish to survive and thrive.

1 9 9 5 1 9 9 8

1998 The Conservancy assists residents in forming the Nushagak-Mulchatna Watershed Council.

In this Place: A Review of Salmon Habitat and Risk in Bristol Bay

Long-term Sustainability: Bristol Bay’s annual sockeye salmon run has averaged 40 million fish over the past 20 years. E

Global Asset: Bristol Bay is home to 51 percent of the wild sockeye salmon on the planet.A

Blue Ribbon: “some of the premier fly-fishing rivers on earth.”C

The Nature Conservancy in Alaska715 L Street, Suite 100Anchorage, Alaska 99501nature.org/alaska

Mining Claims

Nushagak River

Kvichak River

Lake Iliamna

Naknek

Our ResolutionTo protect a globally significant wild salmon resource, The Nature Conservancy sets a high bar for large-scale developments in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds. The Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Alaska, based on an under-standing of the risks and the state of current, proven mining technology, agreed that large-scale mining in these critical watersheds at this time presents an inappropriate risk to the salmon systems of the region. They noted that a very high bar is necessary in this region and suggested criteria that should form the foundation of that bar. Specifi-cally, they recommended that in the Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds, mining and other activities not be allowed that:

n destroy or impair wild salmon habitat, such that the sustained abundance in the watersheds is placed at significant riskn require water withdrawals that may exceed ecological flow needs for fish and wildlifen need active management in perpetuity to avoid environmental contamination1

n result in acid mine drainage that cannot be eliminated by proven methods and technology established at comparable sites and scale2

1 By “active management” we do not mean long‐term monitoring or correcting unforeseen problems, both of which are required by law. The intent is to avoid planned management such as active mechanical and water quality management systems that must be maintained in perpetuity.2 It is important to note that by “comparable sites and scale” we do not mean “identical.” The intent is to find a project with similar geological, hydrologic, and meteorological conditions at a scale relevant for comparison purposes.

The Nature Conservancy will work together with local communities, state and federal agencies, businesses and other stakeholders to further refine and characterize this higher bar for large-scale mining in Bristol Bay such that the vitality, abundance and diversity of these salmon systems is maintained.

Footnotes from cover:A. Ruggerone, G.T., R.M. Peterman, B. Dorner, and K.W. Myers. 2010. Magnitude and trends in abundance of hatchery and wild pink salmon, chum salmon, and sockeye salmon in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science 2:306-328.B. Nushagak River Watershed Traditional Use Area PlanC. Fly-fishing Alaska’s Wild Rivers by Dan HeinerD. Alaska Department of Fish and GameE. Schindler, et al. 2010. Population diversity and the portfolio effect in an exploited species. Nature (465) 609-612.

Nushagak River

Bristol Bay

Dillingham

nature.org/alaska0412

The Nushagak and Kvichak rivers produce 25% of the wild sockeye

salmon on the planet.

Cultural Backbone: 7,000 years of salmon subsistence tradition.B

Growing Market: The ex-vessel value of the 2010 Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery was more than $153 million.D