A Canadian mining company wants to conduct exploratory drilling for copper at the headwaters of the Methow River. This is the first step toward developing an open-pit copper mine in the valley we call home. We recently collaborated on a film with the Methow Headwaters Campaign to help prevent this from happening. The new film tells the story of a mountain community coming together to share why the Methow Valley, in the heart of the North Cascades, is too special to mine. “It’s become a more unique place the more it’s stayed the same,” says local farmer Sam Lucy. “Right?” The campaign is working to secure a mineral withdrawal and permanently protect the Methow from the threat of industrial-scale mining.
Over a year ago, with the help of LightHawk, Benj made some images of the proposed mine site for the campaign. And then we began brainstorming how we might make a film to highlight what was at stake and galvanize decision makers. The idea was to craft an economic argument that presented how a mine of this scale was incompatible with the values of the valley and to highlight a few of the more than 100 business owners that have come together in opposition. Last summer we profiled three keystone businesses that represented core values in the valley: clean water, healthy agriculture and recreation-based tourism.
On February 19 over 400 people packed the Winthrop Barn for the film’s release party. In addition to the 7-minute short film, we also created a 60-second trailer and six 30-second testimonials that highlight a larger range of local stakeholders. Stay tuned for more campaign events in the Seattle and beyond in the months to come.
A huge thanks to the amazing team that helped us with this production: UAV magicians Whit Hassett and Ben Moon spent a week in the valley capturing stunning drone footage of ridgetops, rivers and agricultural lands. LightHawk provided a Cessna 206 to film the upper headwaters from above last June. Hannah Dewey from the Headwaters Campaign helped us with character selection and logistics. And Nick Drummond once again provided the musical score that brought the piece together. This film was funded by the generous support of Patagonia Seattle and the Mountaineers Foundation through grants to the Wilderness Society.
We also want to give a shout out to all our neighbors here in the Methow who let us into their lives and lent their voice to the campaign: Kevin van Bueren of North Cascades Fly Fishing, Sam Lucy of Bluebird Grain Farms, Julie Muyllaert of Methow Cycle & Sport, Rick and Missy LeDuc from The Mazama Store, former county commissioner Bud Hover, and Chairman Michael Marchand of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Finally, it’s time to take action! The Bureau of Land Management is taking public comment on the proposed mineral withdrawal until the end of March. Learn more and submit a letter at methowheadwaters.org.
