Alaska restored a gold-mined creek—salmon runs rose six-fold

Resurrection Creek, near the small town of Hope in Southcentral Alaska, has a long history of gold mining. Image: U.S. Forest Service For decades, gold mining has done more than alter the scenery around Resurrection Creek in Alaska, it has changed the creek itself. Degradation of riverbanks, alteration of stream channels and loss of wetlands that once provided habitat for salmon and wildlife. But nearly 20 years ago, restoration efforts began to undo some of the damage, states a report by the National Forest Foundation. The results were a potent reminder of nature’s ability to respond when damaged waterways are allowed to heal.From gold rush to ecological degradationResurrection Creek, near the small town of Hope in Southcentral Alaska, has a long history of gold mining. In the gold-mining rush of the early 20th century, when the town supposedly had over 3,000 people, hope was booming. Today, the settlement is home to about 100 people, states the report. For more than 40 years, Resurrection Creek was used for hydraulic and heavy equipment placer mining. Mining disturbed soil and riverbanks, changing the creek’s natural channels and the surrounding ecology. Much of the wetland and s...