Five Alaska Native villages just blocked a Nevada corporation’s plan to vacuum the ocean floor for gold in waters their people have fished for generations. A federal judge ruled Tuesday the Army Corps of Engineers broke the law when it approved the industrial dredging operation.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason found the Corps failed to follow required procedures before greenlighting IPOP LLC’s proposal to mine Safety Sound and its Bonanza Channel, located east of Nome in northwestern Alaska. The Obama-appointed judge stopped short of formally killing the project but asked both sides to recommend a remedy within three weeks.
Why This Estuary Matters
The Bonanza Channel isn’t just another stretch of Alaska coastline. Both Audubon and the American Bird Conservatory have designated it an area of critical importance for migratory birds. The estuary supports fish and marine mammals that Alaska Natives have depended on for subsistence living since before the United States existed.
The Village of Solomon and King Island Native Community led the legal challenge alongside three other tribal groups. They argued the Corps rubber-stamped corporate plans without proper environmental review or consideration of how suction dredging would affect their fishing rights and traditional food sources.
Las Vegas Company’s Reality TV Scheme
IPOP LLC first proposed the mining operation in 2018, bundling it with plans for a reality television show. The Las Vegas-registered company wanted to deploy industrial suction dredges — underwater vacuum systems that tear up the seafloor hunting for gold deposits.
Federal law requires the Army Corps to conduct thorough environmental assessments before approving such projects, especially in sensitive ecosystems. Judge Gleason found the agency cut corners.
What Happens Next
The judge gave all parties three weeks to propose how the court should remedy the Corps’ unlawful approval. The tribal villages want the 2024 permit vacated entirely. That would force IPOP back to square one if it still wants to pursue the project.
For now, the estuary remains untouched. Whether industrial mining equipment ever enters these waters depends on what Judge Gleason decides after reviewing the upcoming briefs. The Native communities who’ve fished here for generations are watching closely.
Key Points
- Federal judge ruled Army Corps of Engineers broke the law approving industrial gold mining in Alaska estuary
- Five Alaska Native villages sued to protect fishing grounds their people have used for generations
- Las Vegas corporation wanted to suction-dredge the ocean floor in internationally recognized bird habitat
https://www.courthousenews.com/alaska-judge-finds-bonanza-channel-gold-mining-proposal-unlawful/ – November 04, 2026
