Mixing zones, wild salmon don't mix

The state of Alaska has a reputation for being a pristine wilderness with an abundance of fertile habitat and waterways that produce tremendous amounts of game and fish. This reputation could soon be put to the test. Our state government is preparing to allow large industrial projects to utilize these very habitats as "mixing zones."

A mixing zone as defined on the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Web site is "a permitted area in which discharge substances mix with, and are diluted by receiving waters. Some water quality criteria may be exceeded in a mixing zone." Current regulations in Alaska do not allow for mixing zones of any kind in salmon spawning rivers or flowing waters. This is because our past government officials have recognized the importance of having pure, healthy habitat for our salmon and what these salmon mean to our state -- subsistence, commercial and sport. The proposed changes would now allow industries to pollute our rivers where salmon spawn.

 According to DNR Web sites, the Department of Environmental Conservation envisions three criteria where a mixing zone would be permitted. First, a mixing zone may be permitted for specific pollutants that do not harm fish. Second, the discharge of pollutants may be timed to avoid the spawning season. And the third criterion is that the project design may include habitat improvements such that the positive effects offset the negative effects, resulting in no net change.

As an Alaska resident, these criteria concern me. Why would we want deliberately to pollute any of our rivers? This just does not make sense. We have seen the results of polluted waterways throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The second criterion is alarming in that the spawning areas for our salmon do not become a nutrient-rich environment for a short window of time during the spawn. These areas are a year-round source of nutrients for the salmon at the most critical stages of their life cycle. Far too often, we as a society have tried to mess with Mother Nature only to be reminded time and time again that we are human, that we make mistakes.

This leads me into the third criterion of establishing artificial or compensation-type systems to make up for the destruction of the wild salmon. This goes directly against what Bristol Bay is all about -- wild salmon. Not farmed or hatchery fish -- but wild salmon. We should be doing everything in our power to protect and ensure that the last great wild salmon runs in the world and their crucial spawning beds are not jeopardized. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's Web site, "Mixing zones should not be permitted where they may endanger critical area (breeding grounds, recreational areas, areas with sensitive biota)."

Mixing zones help one industry in particular, and that is the mining industry. The reason is simple. It is much cheaper to discharge pollutants into a waterway than to contain and treat them.

A mixing zone near the Koktuli River and Upper Talarik Creek is not a good idea for Alaska salmon. I do not know of an area that is more critical than spawning beds for our salmon. A mixing zone in this area coupled with a large open-pit mine that exposes sulfides and heavy metals and a large tailings pond will only bring on the potential for damage to our fish. I do not think that we should accept the undeniable risks that are coupled with these proposals.

Remember, we are all human. and no matter how great we think we are, we still make mistakes. Let's not make a mistake in Bristol Bay.

Brian Kraft is director of Bristol Bay Alliance and Southwest Alaska project director for Trout Unlimited. He is also general manager of Alaska Sportsman's Lodge in the Bristol Bay region.