In 1994, Western Rivers Conservancy bought 154 acres of patented mining claims in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area to prevent gold mining and logging. The claims where located at the headwaters of the South Fork Sauk River, an important salmon and steelhead stream. Mining the claims would have threatened this world-class fishery, in addition to degrading the wilderness values of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area. Only an hour from the Seattle metropolitan area, the Wilderness Area is an inviolate alpine ecosystem readily accessible to the hiking, camping, climbing and skiing public. After purchase, Western Rivers Conservancy donated the claims to the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest for inclusion in the Wilderness Area. The Henry M. Jackson Foundation contributed funds to help purchase and relinquish the claims.

Back to previous page