Mineral Withdrawal of the Methow Headwaters

In 2015 we worked with The Wilderness Society on their Methow Headwaters campaign, focused on preventing industrial scale mining throughout the Methow Valley of north central Washington. The immediate threat and the impetus for the campaign was a proposed open-pit copper mine on Flagg Mountain that would have had significant ecological impacts on the Methow Valley.

We produced a series of maps, including some oblique three-dimensional views, to convey a sense of the location of the proposed mine, as well as a proposed withdrawal map.

As a result of the Headwaters campaign there is currently a two-year mining ban in place, and the US Forest Service has recommended a twenty year withdrawal to the Bureau of Land Management. Please consider supporting this withdrawal and the long-term protection of the Methow Valley here. The deadline for comments is Tuesday, November 13th!

The proposed area of Mineral Withdrawal

Oblique view of proposed mine and the Methow Valley

Aerial photo of Methow Valley with proposed mine location in red