🔊BIG NEWS: The Chilkat River was just listed as one of America's Most Endangered Rivers® of 2026

Chilkat River, Alaska | Colin Arisman

Protect Alaska’s Chilkat River Forever!

A large, acid-producing hard rock mine, known as the Palmer Project, would contaminate the Chilkat River and watershed in Southeast Alaska, endangering wild salmon, a world-renowned bald eagle preserve, and a culture and way of life that has existed for thousands of years.

Now owned by Canadian company Vizsla Copper Corporation, this acid-generating mining operation is proposed for development on the unceded traditional territory of the Chilkat Indian Village (Klukwan), a U.S. federally recognized Tribe. Exploratory mining activity has been ongoing for decades. These lands and waters are vital and sacred to the Chilkat Indian Village, which has organized sustained community resistance to the project for years.

Take the pledge below! Urge the State of Alaska to reject future hard-rock mining permits and keep the Chilkat safe for generations to come!

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Personalize Your Letter

Acting Commissioner

Kathy

Moser

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Regional Director

George

Gorman

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Commissioner

Amanda

Lefton

New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Regional Director

Cathy

Haas

New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Consistency Rev Unit

Consistency Review Unit

Div of Coastal Resources

New York State Department of State

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

Exploratory mining activity and a proposed large-scale hard rock mine raise grave concerns for the Chilkat River. The Chilkat River Watershed is the primary watershed that sustains the culture and way of life in the Chilkat Valley in Southeast Alaska. The river flows through the world-renowned Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and provides essential habitat for native salmon, brown bears, and other wildlife species.

The Chilkat River is the beating heart of the communities of Klukwan (Chilkat Indian Village) and Haines, driving a local economy built on a thriving tourism and recreation sector, a wide array of small businesses, and a robust commercial fishing industry.

The Chilkat Indian Village, a U.S. federally recognized Tribe, actively opposes this project as it risks sustainable wild salmon runs, hunting and fishing practices, food security, sustainable economies, and traditional ways of life.

The risks posed by an acid-generating mine like the proposed Palmer Project are too significant to ignore. I stand with the Chilkat Indian Village by signing this petition, demanding Alaska state leaders reject all future permits for hard rock mining activity in the Chilkat Valley Watershed.

Sincerely,

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