Kinross Gold, Trout Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently announced an agreement to protect and conserve important fish and wildlife habitat adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. As part of its remediation and reclamation plans for the Mineral Hill mine, a subsidiary of Kinross donated water rights representing approximately 3 billion gallons of water to Trout Unlimited to permanently protect vital fish habitat in tributaries of the Yellowstone River. It also reached a conservation easement agreement with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to permanently protect a 549-acre land corridor used as an important elk migration route and scenic Yellowstone National Park view shed.
“Mining responsibly is an imperative at Kinross and guides decision-making at all of our properties,” said J. Paul Rollinson, Kinross Gold president and CEO. “We are proud to partner with Trout Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to achieve positive benefits for the environment and local community by protecting important fish and wildlife habitat in the Yellowstone area.”
“Last year’s fish kill and emergency closure of the Yellowstone River underscored the importance of making our rivers more resilient. This agreement will help keep more water in the river, providing cooler temperatures in the height of summer and better habitat for fish and wildlife,” said Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited president and CEO.
“This project is a win-win for elk and elk country because it permanently protects a key migration corridor as well as important habitat for elk, deer and other wildlife,” said David Allen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation president and CEO. “We appreciate the work of our partners in conserving the land’s wildlife values and improving public access.”
The water rights donation and conservation easement were made by Kinross Gold U.S.A. Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TVX Mineral Hill Inc. The Mineral Hill mine was operated by TVX until the mine closed in 1996. TVX became a subsidiary of Kinross Gold U.S.A. Inc. in 2003.
