ACWA, a project of the Earth Island Institute, works to prevent the degradation of public waters through advocacy, education, litigation, legislation and market campaigns in support of the fundamental goals of the federal Clean Water Act: 

  1. All Alaska waters should protect aquatic life and be safe for recreation.

  2. The discharge of all pollutants into public waters should be eliminated.

Climate change is impacting the far north more dramatically than anywhere else on the planet.  Our waters, and the people and wildlife that depend upon them every day, have never needed more support.  

Recent News:

Featured
ACWA's 2023 Year End Update
ACWA's 2023 Year End Update

ACWA and local conservation groups continued throughout the year to work with the Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan in opposing the Palmer Project, the copper-zinc mining development in the upper Chilkat Valley. The exploratory effort…

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Chilkat/Klehini Rivers Added to the “Most Endangered Rivers” in America List
Chilkat/Klehini Rivers Added to the “Most Endangered Rivers” in America List

ACWA successfully nominated the Chilkat/Klehini river system to the Most Endangered River in America list for 2023. These unique, productive rivers, and the entire Chilkat Valley are under threat from proposed mining operations.

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ACWA, Rivers Without Borders, and LCC Complaint - PRESS RELEASE
ACWA, Rivers Without Borders, and LCC Complaint - PRESS RELEASE

Three Alaska conservation organizations filed a complaint this week with securities regulators in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia alleging statements from Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (CMR) in regard to its Palmer project, located on a tributary of the Chilkat River near Haines, Alaska and the Tlingit village of Klukwan, are not “full, true and plain” and leave out material information, thus violating securities regulations.

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The Guardian Article on the Palmer Project
The Guardian Article on the Palmer Project

For 2,000 years, Jones Hotch’s ancestors have fished Alaska’s Chilkat River for the five species of salmon that spawn in its cold, clean waters… Now Hotch fears a proposed mining project could end that way of life.

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Current Projects

CHILKAT CHALLENGE TRIATHLON

The 4th Annual Chilkat Challenge Triathlon will be held on July 11th, 2020. For more information and to register, go to http://www.chilkatchallengetriathlon.com/

ACWA hosted the 3rd Annual Chilkat Challenge Triathlon in Haines, Alaska on July 6th, 2019! The CCT is an 9 mile paddle, 22 mile bike ride, 6 mile run along the Chilkat River, through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Racers competed solo, two, or three-person teams. Winners received great prizes from our sponsors and had a great time throughout the event!

Save the Chilkat!

Click this link to read about our efforts to protect the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve from a large scale copper/zinc mine that threatens to eliminate five major salmon runs, the eagles and bears that need those fish to survive, and the sustainable fishing and tourism industries that have thrived in the Chilkat Valley for decades...

Find out more here: SAVE THE CHILKAT!



Photo by Joe Ordonez.

Photo by Joe Ordonez.