On the western shore of Cook Inlet | Tikahtnu, two massive volcanoes – Illiamna and Redoubt – rise like icy sentinels over some of Alaska’s most vibrant ecosystems. Here, in and around Lake Clark National Park, tidal zones protect some of the last healthy razor clam beds in Cook Inlet, while the shores, wetlands, and forests house 187 different species of birds and 550 species of plants. Beluga whales forage in nearby inlets during the winter. Clear-running streams raise generations of salmon that help power Cook Inlet’s fishery—estimated to be worth tens to hundreds of millions for Alaskans annually. Among all this vibrant life, one charismatic figure dominates the landscape: the brown bear. Over the coming months, we will be discussing many of this region’s irreplaceable species and resources—whose future is in jeopardy.
Every summer, one of the densest concentrations of brown bears on Earth congregates along the Western shores of Cook Inlet. In some places, up to 200 brown bears may roam within the same 50 square miles, or about four bears per square mile. Drawn by the annual salmon runs, the bears feed, fight, and fatten up in preparation for the winter – all under the watchful lenses of tourists and naturalists. Over time, the bears in this region have become habituated to the presence of humans, meaning they are more likely to go about their daily lives with people nearby, ignoring the murmur of voices and the clicking of camera shutters. The bears’ habituation to people has created a thriving bear-viewing economy that generates an estimated $34.5 million in annual revenue, and $10 million in annual wages across Southcentral Alaska.
A proposed gold mine threatens to upset this delicate balance.
The proposed Johnson Tract Mine, planned to delve into a mineral-rich area at the base of Mt. Iliamna, is located within the boundaries of Lake Clark National Park. Ordinarily, this region would be strictly off-limits to mining activities, since such activities are prohibited in national parks. But due to a 20,942-acre private inholding owned by Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) that has been grandfathered into the park, mining in this region is on the table.
CIRI acquired the parcel in 1973 through the Cook Inlet Land Exchange Act, before the region was made into a national park. For more than 50 years, this land has been supporting local communities, ecotourism, and subsistence use. But now, amid soaring gold prices, CIRI has leased the land to Contango Ore, which is fast-tracking the mine’s development. While the company describes the mine as a short-term, 5–7-year project, the required infrastructure tells a different story, including up to 20 miles of new industrial road, a shipping port in Tuxedni Bay, and a full-scale extraction operation within park boundaries.
This project would bring heavy machinery, road construction, noise, and human traffic into one of Alaska’s most valuable bear habitats. Intrusions of this scale could shatter the fragile relationship between humans and bears in the region. Bears that once ignored visitors may retreat or react unpredictably. Many may abandon their territories altogether, putting a strain on local ecotourism industries.
For nearby communities and local businesses, the mine represents not only an environmental risk, but also a cultural and economic disruption. While CIRI is a native corporation, other local tribes, as well as local businesses and communities, have begun voicing opposition. Stoking fears are the many unknowns surrounding this project – because the project is in an exploratory phase, there is scant public information about the mine plan itself. What is better known, however, is the value of what’s at stake: salmon streams, feeding grounds for endangered beluga whales, subsistence grounds, and irreplaceable bear habitat.
As the Johnson Tract mine pushes forward, Inletkeeper and our allies are watching, and raising the alarm. We’ve brought this mine to your attention before, and it’s going to be taking a central position in our public conversations over the coming months. Stay tuned for future updates about how the Johnson Tract mine could affect our inlet’s ecosystems, businesses, and communities.
Take action: Sign Inletkeeper’s petition to protect Tuxedni Bay and the rich biodiversity it supports.