Menominee River & the Back Forty Mine

Sulfide Mining Basics

American Rivers lists the Menominee River on its Top 10 list of most endangered rivers because of the proposed Back Forty sulfide mine. Watch the short video below to learn more.

Why the Back 40 Mine Should Be Stopped

Toxic – uses cyanide to extract gold, produces sulfuric acid
Unsafe – 150 feet from the Menominee River, not built to withstand large floods
Harmful – endangers drinking water supply and aquatic life such as lake sturgeon
Immoral – desecrates sacred Menominee Tribe cultural sites
False economics – exports profits out of state while leaving pollution

What You Can Do:

SIGN UP for Back 40 Action Alert Emails
SUPPORT the Menominee Tribe’s legal challenge
SHARE this page and videos below to help spread the word!

“If something happens, we’re left with a giant hole. That’s it. We’re left with a poisoned river, and a giant hole.”

Tim Landwehr

Business Owner

“How dangerous, irresponsible, immoral, and absurd to propose a mine 150 feet away from a river that feeds into the Great Lakes.”

Gary Besaw

Tribal Chairman

“There’s no metallic sulfide mine of this type that has not polluted, to date.”

Deb Skubal

Property Owner

Additional Resources

 

Recent Blog Posts

Protecting northern waters from sulfide mining

During our 30-year history, River Alliance has stood with water defenders all across Wisconsin to push back against proposals to bring sulfide mining to our state. Here are the current threats and common myths of mining in the northern Midwest.

The Myth of Sulfide Mining Without Contamination

A new report supports what River Alliance of Wisconsin and our partners have said for years. There isn’t a sulfide mine that hasn’t polluted water.

Joint statement on Flambeau Mine Closure

River Alliance of Wisconsin joined Wisconsin’s Green Fire: Voices for Conservation and Sierra Club - WI Chapter to respond to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' certificate of completion for a portion of the former Flambeau Mine.