Picture the most beautiful nature landscape possible. Picture lakes and trees and sky that is untouched by light, sound and air pollution. Picture lakes so pristine when you canoe across them you can drink the water straight from beneath you. There is a small section of our Earth that has been preserved and untouched by a harmful human hand. If you are not already familiar, it is called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) is located in northern Minnesota and is currently preserved by the US Forest Service. Unfortunately, the federal government decided Sept. 6 to allow a copper mine to be opened. The mine would be located right on the edge of this protected land.

Both Twin Metals and PolyMet mining companies, two of the groups that are a part of the new agreement, pose serious threats to the BWCA. The potential damage done to the lakes in the canoe area would be irreversible.

According to Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, the mines would drain acid and sulfide into the groundwater. All of the lakes in BWCA are connected, so eventually, every lake would be polluted and incapable of sustaining life.

This type of unaltered wilderness is rare in our world today, yet the Department of Agriculture has decided that copper mining and creating jobs is more valuable than a priceless landscape. However, they fail to realize the economic boost the mines might provide would not be enough to counteract the hit the tourism industry would take once these mines are open, according to a Harvard study.

The BWCA is a treasure to Minnesota. It creates jobs and contributes to the state’s tourism economy. It is something that Minnesotans should be proud to have within our borders.

I am outraged at the lack of concern our current government has for wilderness areas like the BWCA. Not only should environmental conservators be distraught, but anyone concerned with Minnesota’s economy should be seriously concerned.