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Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge [P]XT_Pʰ`PY_WTXT_^LYOXZYT_Z]^bL_P]\`LWT_d year-round. The mine also partners with organi- zations such as Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association and the Alaska Department of Fish a&nd Game to [P]QZ]XLOOT_TZYLW]P^PL]NSZY_SPʭ^S[Z[`WL_TZY^ of the Goodpaster River. Routine sampling of Pogo’s discharge into the Goodpaster River has shown no negative down- ^_]PLXTX[LN_^_Zʭ^SZ]Z_SP]L\`L_TNZ]RLYT^X^ ^TYNP ʭ]^_ []ZO`N_TZY L_ _SP XTYP TY ! 0LNS year, members of Pogo’s environmental depart- ment collect juvenile chinook salmon from the riv- er for whole-body metals analysis. In 2018, a total of 153 juvenile chinook salmon were gathered at surface water locations upstream and downstream of the mine. Ten juveniles were retained from each sampling location, the rest released unharmed. Seventeen years of data collection, beginning in []TZ]_ZLN_TaPRZWO[]ZO`N_TZYNZYʭ]X^_SL_ `[^_]PLX LYO OZbY^_]PLX ]P^`W_^ Q]ZX _SP ʭ^S analysis have continued together on a close trend, indicating no impact on metals accumulation due to the presence of the Pogo Mine. Supported by Northern Star Resources Lim- ited, the BSFA operates a Chinook salmon es- capement-monitoring program on the Goodpas- _P] =TaP] , ʭ^SNZ`Y_TYR _ZbP] bL^ NZY^_]`N_PO downstream of the mine to provide scientists with a viewing platform to get an accurate count of salmon entering the river during July and early August, as a measure of overall population health. BSFA has operated the tower since 2004, shortly after the Pogo Mine Development Environmental Impact Statement documented that the Goodpaster =TaP]SLOL^TRYTʭNLY_NSTYZZV^LWXZY]`Y In 2018, the Goodpaster River had an escape- ment of about 2,545 chinook salmon, which re- mains similar in relative magnitude to other Yu- kon River chinook salmon monitored escapements. This long-term enumeration project continues to provide information on salmon abundance trends for the Goodpaster chinook population and en- ^`]P^_SP]TaP]]PXLTY^^`T_LMWPQZ]ʭ^SXTR]L_TYR to spawning grounds. In addition, Northern Star is currently collaborating with ADF&G to identify the possible presence or absence of chinook salmon in remote tributaries of the Goodpaster River drain- age by utilizing cutting edge eDNA techniques. The project is scheduled to take place over the summers of 2018-2020 and will provide information on the chinook salmon spawning habitat.
Anchorage 1510 E 68th Ave. 907.563.1610
Fairbanks 4000 S. Cushman 907.452.4000
The Alaska Miner
April 2019
40
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