Alaska rebuilt a gold-mining damaged 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 ServiceFor 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