Chuitna River in Alaska Added to Endangered Rivers List For 2007
by admin ~ April 20th, 2007
Alaska community and environmental groups unite in media campaign to raise awareness for impacts of proposed coal mine in watershed of the Chuitna River in the Cook Inlet near Anchorage Alaska. The advocacy group American Rivers added the Chuitna to their list of endangered rivers for 2007, citing water quality and impacts on crucial salmon habitat as top concerns. The open pit strip mine proposal includes an area covering 30 square miles, a 12 mile long conveyor to transport coal to tidewater, and a 500,000 ton coal storage area along shores of Cook Inlet. Alaska Public Radio reports all of the coal from the proposed mine site will be shipped overseas (and will not be used as a domestic energy source). A final environmental impact statement is due in a year and a half. More information can be obtained from the Cook Inletkeeper community group, American Rivers website, and the Alaska Public Radio broadcast listed below.
[audio:http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/apti/local-apti-581061.mp3].jpg)
April 26th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
[…] of industrial run-off into the river daily. More about Chuitna Coal Project and the Chuitna River Here Here Here. Seward Alaska has been home to Usibelli Coal and Alaska Railroad coal loading facility […]
August 9th, 2007 at 2:19 am
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August 22nd, 2007 at 1:42 pm
The Chuitna River is truely a northern jewel. I’m a grant writer at American Rivers and I was glad to see that northern rivers have advocates. I love the photographs on your site. I’ve wanted to visit the Alaska and Northern Canada for years. I will when I can afford the expense. Keep up the great work on the blog.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Hi George,
Thanks for your comment. I just returned from a marathon drive to Inuvik and canoe trip on the Horton River in the Northwest Territories, and my passion for northern rivers is as strong as ever. I’ve been slow to update my blog ? but am still around and am working on a second film project (my Horton footage) and other work. The smoking hills are astoundingly beautiful and surreal. Good luck with your blog!