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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Aug. 17, 2005   Text and photos © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.

Trekkers connect Michigan waters to highlight sulfide mining threats

MARQUETTE -- Connecting Water - Connecting People (CWCP) -- a trek from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan to highlight the threats metallic sulfide mining poses to Great Lakes waters began on Aug. 6 in Marquette and continues through Aug. 30.

The trekkers camped last weekend at the proposed Yellow Dog mine site, touring the Yellow Dog Plains and the headwaters of the Salmon-Trout River.

At the Aug. 6 send off for the trek across Lake Superior and Lake Michigan watersheds, kayakers, from left, Jackie Camelet, Charlie Drapeau and Rob Cadmus set out on Lake Superior from Marquette's lower harbor. (Photo © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

Standing on Eagle Rock, a large rock outcropping on the Plains overlooking the proposed mine site, Doug Cornett of the Northwoods Wilderness Recovery environmental group expressed his concern.

"Kennecott doesn't have a full understanding of how groundwater flows here. This is important, because dozens of springs emerge from the ground, less than a mile from where sulfide ore will be stored and moved. Kennecott plans to discharge treated waste water directly into this aquifer."

Governor Granholm needs to stop relying on the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to "do the right thing," Cornett added, noting he believed Granholm should support a United States Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic study.

The Yellow Dog Plains encompasses multiple aquifers. The proposed mine sits on the cusp of the Salmon-Trout River and the Yellow Dog River watersheds.

A view of the Salmon-Trout River, which flows through an area proposed for sulfide mining. (Photo © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

Rob Cadmus, leader of the CWCP expedition, said it is essential that people understand exactly what is happening with the water before any permit is even considered.

"We feel that a USGS hydrological survey is essential in understanding the movement of water," Cadmus said. "I think that it would also point out with unbiased science that this kind of mining is not feasible in such a fragile environment. As it is now, the DEQ and the State of Michigan are relying on Kennecott to supply the hydrologic data for the site. That seems to me like the fox watching the henhouse. The citizens deserve a neutral third party study to guarantee that the interests of the environment and the people are considered before the interests of this company." 

Rob Cadmus addresses the audience at the Aug. 6 send-off event for the Connecting Water - Connecting People trek from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan to highlight the threats metallic Sulfide Mining poses to Great Lakes waters. (Photo © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

To highlight the complex nature of Upper Peninsula water, Rob and Jackie Camelet will traverse the McCormick Wilderness Area of the Ottawa National Forest. This wilderness area is located directly adjacent to Kennecott's proposed Eagle Project. From there, the Michigamme watershed flows south, into the Menominee River and eventually into Lake Michigan. 

The question of metallic sulfide mining affects not only the Yellow Dog Plains in Marquette and Baraga Counties, but also the largest watershed in the Upper Peninsula -- the Menominee River. The Menominee drains at least eight Michigan and Wisconsin counties and dozens of townships. In addition to having the proposed Kennecott mine lie near headwater streams of the Menominee watershed, Mineral Processing Corporation and its partners are working to open a metallic sulfide mine in Menominee County -- the proposed Back 40 project. 

In traversing the headwaters of the McCormick tract, trekkers can show how connected Michigan water is -- how you can step from one watershed to another.

"This is what it's all about," said Jackie Camelet. "Water is everything to Michigan. It is our most precious resource. It really is more valuable than gold. How can we put that at risk?"*

Jackie Camelet, left, and Teresa Bertossi, founder of Students Against Sulfide Mining (SASM), chat before the send off on Aug. 6 in Marquette. (Photo © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve says if Kennecott Minerals' "simple things" -- like drilling pits and culvert construction -- have polluted the Yellow Dog River, without penalty from the DEQ, then she fears a "simple" failure with a sulfide mine. 

"Penalty? Our waters," Pryor writes in an article in the Summer/Fall 2005 Yellow Dog Howl Annual Report.**

The public is encouraged to participate in stretches of the trek and in the local picnics for each area. Shuttles will be arranged to and from Marquette and to meet individual needs upon request.

The following is a schedule of upcoming events of the trek:

Picnic in Michigamme Park: Wednesday, Aug. 17

Connecting Water-Connecting People will host a community picnic from about 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17, in Michigamme Park in Michigamme. The public is encouraged to attend and bring with them a dish to pass. There will be food, music, sign painting, information and fun for the family. Members of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) will joining the group at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Van Riper State Park's Peshekee Cabin Unit, a few miles west of the park on U.S. 41, just before the bridge over the mouth of the Peshekee River. From there they will canoe and kayak west along the shore of Lake Michigamme to the Michigamme Park.

Trek: Leaving on the morning of Aug. 18, the group will canoe down the Michigamme River. A 13-mile paddle over two days will take them to Republic. (Shuttles can be arranged for paddlers wishing to join.)

For more information and directions, please call Rhonda at 1-906-323-6219.

Republic Township Park: Friday, Aug. 19

Beginning at 7 p.m., this event will include speakers, music, pot-luck picnic, canoeing, fun!

Trek: Leaving early in the morning of Aug. 20, the group will canoe down the Michigamme River. There will be a few dam portages. They will have six days to paddle this long 75-mile section to Norway/ Iron Mountain. Shuttles can be arranged and there are put-ins/take-outs all along this stretch.

A kayak and gear photographed on one of the Lake Superior watershed streams, at risk from proposed sulfide mining.  (Photo © 2005 Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Reprinted with permission.)

Metallic Sulfide Mining Information Facts Fair: Sunday, Aug. 21

The Concerned Citizens of Marquette County will host a Facts Fair from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Holiday Inn of Marquette.

Topics will include Corporate Responsibility, Money Matters, Scientific Issues and the Law.***

The event is free and open to the public. There will be music, presentations, food and a cash bar. Citizens are invited to learn the facts surrounding the arguments against sulfide mining in Michigan.

Norway/Iron Mountain: Thursday, Aug. 25

A picnic with speakers, music, food and fun will begin at 7 p.m. in Marion Park, Norway.

Trek: On the afternoon of the 25th, trekkers will be running the most intense stretch of rapids on the trip, Piers Gorge. Experienced whitewater paddlers are welcome to paddle this challenging and dangerous class IV section, but others will be encouraged to portage. A support crew, including experienced paddlers will be present. The paddlers will then continue down the approximately 35-mile-long stretch of the Menominee River to the Back 40 Mine Site near Stephenson, Mich.

Back 40 Mine Site: Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 27-28

The trekkers will camp near the Back Forty mine site and tour Shakey Lakes Savannah. Speakers will highlight the natural history of the Savannah and the cultural history of Native American tribes that occupied the area for hundreds of years.

Trek: Leaving on Aug. 28, the group will canoe the last 50 miles of the Menominee River to Menominee, Mich. This section will involve portaging several dams. They will have almost three days to reach Lake Michigan.

Menominee/ Marinette: Tuesday, Aug. 30

At 7 p. m. a Closing Rally will be held in the Marina Bandshell, Menominee, with speakers, music and information.

Editor's notes: This information is courtesy Northwoods Wilderness Recovery. Visit their Web site to learn more about the sulfide mining issue. Photos of the trek will be posted there soon. * Click here for a map showing the route and progress of Rob and Jackie Camelet's trek. ** Read Cynthia Pryor's article, "It is the Little Things ..." in the Summer/Fall 2005 Yellow Dog Howl Annual Report on the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve Web site. ***Native American groups are also concerned about the sulfide mining threat to the watersheds. See "New rules will govern sulfide mining in Michigan," p. 17, in the Summer 2005 issue of MAZINA'IGAN, A Chronicle of the Lake Superior Ojibwe, published by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC). For Kennecott Minerals' Description of the Eagle Project, visit their Web site.

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