Mission

With The Seattle Times and Conservation Northwest, we flew to examine massive Canadian mining operation that elicit transboundary threats to water resources and other ecological values and collect media to inform press pieces and educate the general public.

Check out the Seattle Times Deadbeat Dam article.

Mining in southeastern British Columbia threatens US watersheds and communities. We flew north out of the Okanogan River Valley near Oroville, Washington into the remote backcountry of British Columbia. Amidst the untamed and seemingly undeveloped wilderness lie enormous mining operations. Our overflight focused on the Copper Mountain Mine, which presents egregious problems, none quite as alarming as concerns surrounding the two tailings dams, 566 feet and 540 feet in height, that hold back millions of cubic meters of toxic tailings water. Downstream is the Okanagan region, sensitive fish and wildlife habitat, the cultural homelands of the Syilx or Okanagan First Nation, an enormous agricultural region, and an economically and environmentally precious area, that is threatened by this mine and its earthen tailings dams. The possibility of an environmental disaster, like a tailings dam failure, seems all too possible. Expert studies show the probability of a tailings dam failure at Copper Mountain to be as high as one in a hundred.

The lack of regulations surrounding these mines is incredibly concerning for the communities and riverine life that exist downstream. Despite concerns and pushback from conservation groups, Tribes, and the public, little has been done to address the threats that mines, like Copper Mountain, pose to both Canadian and American communities and watersheds. Our partners, including NGOs and Tribal leaders, along with the U.S. government are seeking stronger regulations and increased oversight of Canadian mining operations that threaten watersheds, important cultural landscapes, fish populations, and recreation.

Click for the photos, aerial footage, audio recording, and geo-referenced photos from the flight.