the green river valley & Mount St. Helens:
No Place For A Mine
FIGHTING TO SAVE AN irreplaceable landscape
Cascade Forest Conservancy and our partners have fought to protect Mount St. Helens and the Green River Valley from efforts to develop a new hard rock mine since 2005. We have stopped repeated development attempts through lawsuits, coalition building, and advocacy.Â
But recently, the Canadian corporation Cambria Gold Mines (formerly Ascot Resources), announced that the company will once again work to develop a new mining project in the foothills of North America’s most active volcano.Â
MOUNT ST. HELENS IS
NO PLACE FOR A MINE
A new hard rock mine in our seismically active corners of the Cascades is an unacceptable threat to the saftey of downstream communities.
Efforts to develop a mine here also threaten beloved backcountry areas and vibrant ecosystems in a rich and unique corner of the Cascades.  Â
A mine in the foothills of mount st. helens would be:
A Threat to Water, Fish, and People
If the mine is built, polluted groundwater and potential tailing pond breaches of toxic mining waste would threaten the Green River and the life that depends on it. The Green River is an important habitat for many species, a gene bank for wild steelhead, and is eligible for a Wild and Scenic River designation. The Green River also flows into drinking water sources for thousands of people living along the North Fork Toutle River and Cowlitz River.
This area remains very seismically active, increasing the chances that a tailing pond breach will lead to a disaster for communities in SW Washington.​
A Threat to Recreation​
The construction of a mine in the Green River Valley would be a huge disappointment to the many hikers, cyclists, back-country horse riders, hunters, and anglers who come here to experience a beautiful and remote corner of the Cascades. Much of the area that would be impacted by mining was purchased by the Forest Service using funds designated to support conservation and recreation, but the mine would prevent or limit future recreation opportunities and negatively impact tourism, particularly in eastern Lewis County.​
A Threat to old-growth
The mine would destroy some of the only old-growth stands in the area that survived the irresponsible clear-cut logging practices of the 20th century and the 1980 eruption. It is vital for the health of our climate and the survival of many iconic NW species to preserve the remaining stands of old-growth in the Cascades before they are gone forever.​
SPEAK UP FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Since 1985, Cascade Forest Conservancy has been your voice speaking for the areas in and around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. Join the 12,000 other members who support Cascade Forest Conservancy and are making a difference now.
News & Updates
NEWS RELEASE: CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO TESTIFY BEFORE U.S. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTRY
BREAKING: NEW EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A MINE ONCE AGAIN THREATEN MOUNT ST. HELENS
