You are cordially invited to…Come paddling with us!!
The Precious Waters Flotilla is a 30-day canoe trip from the Polymet Mine Site to the St. Paul Capitol to raise awareness about the proposed sulfide mines of NE Minnesota.
Copper/Nickel Sulfide Mining is a looming threat to the BWCA, Lake Superior and Mississippi watersheds. It stands to affect everything from the wild rice to the tourism industry, in a big way. The largest proposed mine would expose 40,000 tons of sulfide-bearing ore per day for 100 years.
Please join us on the waterways to speak out on this destructive mega-project.
Once people become aware of the extent of these proposals, they will vote them down. In Wisconsin, companies are required to prove that their copper/nickel sulfide mines will not pollute before they are granted permits- and they have not been granted one yet! We can do this in Minnesota too!!
To protect our water, food and health for generations to come
To be included in decisions about how our collective resources are used
To create sustainable alternative economies for everyone
Come Join Us!!!
Sept. 21-Sept. 25: Polymet Mine Site to Floodwood (Experienced paddlers, avg. 24 mi./day)
Sept. 27-Oct. 1: Floodwood to Aitkin (All levels, avg. 15 mi./day)
Oct. 3-Oct. 5: Aitkin to Brainerd (All levels, avg. 15 mi./day)
Oct. 7-Oct. 12: Brainerd to St. Cloud (All levels, avg. 15 mi./day)
Oct. 14-Oct.20: St. Cloud to Harriet Island, St. Paul (All levels, avg. 15 mi./day)
E-mail preciouswatersflotilla@hotmail.com or call (218) 410-0623 for more info.
Also friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/preciouswaters.flotilla See you there!!
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The Precious Waters Flotilla: Definition, Purpose and Goals
Definition: The Precious Waters Flotilla is a canoe voyage from the proposed Polymet mine site to the State Capitol in St. Paul. Participation will be bottom-lined by a core team of three Northwoods residents, who will be accompanied by varying numbers of citizens from across Minnesota for varying lengths of time.
Purpose: The Precious Waters Flotilla has five points of purpose as follows:
Main Purposes:
1) To raise awareness among citizens of Minnesota about the proposed sulfide mining initiatives of Northern Minnesota
2)To add concerned citizens to existing networks
3)To inspire establishment of local grassroots networks that will follow and stay active on the issue of sulfide mining in Minnesota
Secondary Purposes:
1)To examine policy-making, permitting and regulatory agencies involved in the decision-making process about sulfide mining
2)To open dialogue about sustainable, alternative economies to sulfide mining
Goals:
1)To complete the voyage
2)To expose the issue of sulfide mining in Minnesota to residents of the Twin Cities Metro Area who regularly use and greatly value the BWCA, who do not yet know about the issue.
3)To inspire establishment of a Twin Cities Metro Area-based group that will follow and stay active on the issue of sulfide mining in Minnesota.
4)For events: At each of four informational events along the route, to have five to ten people attend, who will stay active on the issue of sulfide mining in Minnesota, in the long term.
5)For media coverage: To have press coverage across Northeastern Minnesota and in the Twin Cities Metro Area of the send-off, a minimum of one mid-point update or more in-depth story, and the final rally at the capitol.
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Thinking about paddling? Everyone is welcome!
Things you should know...
Objectives of the Flotilla:
-To raise awareness among citizens of Minnesota about the proposed sulfide mining initiatives of the North Woods
-To add concerned citizens to already existing networks
-To inspire establishment of local grassroots groups that will follow and stay active on the issue of sulfide mining in Minnesota
Voice of the Flotilla:
We are for the water and the people, for jobs and the environment. We can have both!
Rules of the Flotilla:
We are sober, family-friendly and law-abiding. We are courteous, peacekeeping, and deescalating.
Logistics of the Flotilla:
-Leg 1 is for experienced paddlers only
-Legs 2-5 are open to all levels of experience: Anyone is welcome for any length of time.
-You must contact us to coordinate your participation (Contact info below)
-You are responsible for your own gear and food; however, there is a canoe partner/gearshare/rideshare board at
-There will at all times be an experienced canoeist/ navigator present on, and a support vehicle accompanying, the flotilla.
-You are entirely responsible for your own safety.
Welcome, welcome and welcome!
We hope for your company, as we speak,
with our actions, our days, and our lives, our love for the land, the water, and the people.
-The Precious Waters Flotilla
email: preciouswatersflotilla@hotmail.com
phone: (218) 410-0623
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Precious Waters Flotilla Working Route Plan
Leg One for experienced paddlers
9/21 Day 1. Send off Ceremony at proposed polymet site to Whitewater Lake
9/22 Day 2. Whitewater Lake to mile 153 on St. Louis River
9/23 Day 3. Mile 153 to Mud Hen Creek mile 134
9/24 Day 4. Mud Hen Creek mile 134 to mile 110
9/25 Day 5. Mile 110 to mile 99 Campsite or mile 95
9/26 Day 6. Mile 99 Campsite or mile 95 to Floodwoodmile73 (no canoeing, just event)
Leg Two
9/27 Day 7. Mile73 Floodwood to Savannah River Portage
9/28 Day 8. Savanah River Portage to Big Sandy Lake
9/29 Day 9. Big Sandy Lake to Mississippi River Mile 1102 to Berglund Cty. Park Mile 1083
9/30 Day 9. Berglund Cty. Park mile 1083 to mile 1067.5 Public land
10/1 Day 10. Mile 1 067.5 public land to Aitkin Campground mile 1052
10/2 Day 11. Aitkin Campgroud Mile 1052 to to Black Dog Bar and Grill mile 1027
Leg Three
10/3 Day 12 Crosby Event and rest day at Black Dog Bar and Grill
10/4 Day 13 Black Dog Bar and Grill mile 1027 to Half Moon Campground mile 1014
10/5 Day 14 Half Moon Campground mile 1014 to Brainerd mile 1000
10/6 Day 15 Brainerd event and rest day
Leg Four
10/7 Day 16 Brainerd mile 1000 to Crow Wing State Park mile 987
10/8 Day 17 Crow Wing State Park mile 987 to Camp Ripley Junction mile 970
10/9 Day 18 Camp Ripley Junction mile 970 to Little Falls mile 960
10/10 Day 19Little Falls mile 960 to Private Campmile 950
10/11 Day 20 Private Camp mile 950 to Stearns Cty. Park mile 938
10/12 Day 21 Stearns Cty. Park mile 938 toSt. Cloud mile 925
10/13 Day 22 St. Cloud event and rest day
Leg Five
10/14 Day 23 St.Cloud mile 925 to Putnam Pasture mile 919
10/15 Day 24 Putnam Pasture mile 919 to Oak Island mile 902.5
10/16 Day 25 Oak Island mile 902 to Dimmick Island mile 887
10/17 Day 26 Dimmick Island mile 887 to CloquetIsland mile 872
10/18 Day 27 Cloquet Island mile 872 to Mahnomin Park/Rice Creek mile 858.5
10/19 Day 28 Mahnomin Park/Rice Creek mile 858.5 Minnehaha Creek mile 843
10/20 Day29 Minnehaha Creek mile 843 to Harriet Island mile 836
10/22 Day 30 Precious Waters March and Rally