Spring Salmon News & Update

Northern Edge 2019

Continuing the biennial multi-military war games, the live-fire exercises were conducted from May 13 to 24 in the Gulf of Alaska. They were timed exactly during the Copper River’s first and second commercial fishing openers of the season, against the will of all Gulf of Alaska fishing communities. And Northern Edge exercises have increased considerably: for the first time in ten years an aircraft carrier strike group participated: there were 10,000 soldiers and officers (up from 6,000); approximately 250 aircraft from all branches of US forces (up from 175); there were 5 ships as well as the nuclear aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. There was no submarine activity this year, but once again, no non-military observers were allowed. There is clear evidence that Navy sonar leads to beaked whale mortalities. While the military states “there is little impact to salmon,” they provide no data to corroborate these statements. Fishermen believe otherwise and say our salmon should be respected and not harassed or harmed when they are returning to their ancestral spawning grounds in the spring. Northern Edge-Navy planners are writing a new 5-year supplemental impact statement, and EPC will reach out with alerts to all for comments when that becomes available later this year. Check out: Sound and Valley News and Eyak Preservation NE19

Speaking of Salmon: Deadline for Comments NO PEBBLE MINE: July 1, 2019

The Bristol Bay watershed supports the largest and most valuable wild sockeye salmon run in the world. Yet a huge toxic mining complex in the Bristol Bay headwaters is being seriously considered in the state of Alaska. We need your voice: YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE- Every single comment and action is needed and noted. Do two things: 1. As of this writing, there are over 49,000 comments, yet we need many more, so add your voice and Submit a Comment! AND: 2. Contact Senator Lisa Murkowski’s offices (907) 271-3735 or email and speak up for rejecting the Army Corps of Engineer permitting: NO Pebble Mine

Exxon Valdez 30 years ago…

Announcing: Copper River Delta Sound WATERKEEPER

EPC has focused and succeeded in the preservation of wild salmon habitat and culture in the waters and watersheds of Prince William Sound, the Copper River and the Gulf of Alaska since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. We are very honored to have been invited, and are now beginning our relationship as an affiliate with the WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE organizations in Alaska and worldwide.

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Bering River Coal Conservation Initiative

This historic conservation opportunity shows that tenacity and hard work pays off. With 62,000-acres of coal now conserved, EPC is reaching out for donations and visionary investment to retire the final most crucial 11,000-acres through an international transaction with the Korea Alaska Development Corporation– a still-willing seller for conservation. Retiring the last coal title in this pristine region will help preserve over 3 million acres of the Copper-Bering River watershed. You can help protect our wild salmon homelands forever. This exceptional conservation opportunity requires visionary commitment from visionary people. Time is getting short, and with this title now for sale publicly, we want to hear from you: all donations indicated for the Bering River Coal purchase are held in trust by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation. 

Eyak Lake Home

The Eyak Preservation Council Stands with the Gwich’in