Save the Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters is threatened by toxic copper mining.

Save the Boundary Waters is a grassroots organization dedicated to permanently protecting Minnesota’s crown jewel – the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining.

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As leaders of this locally led, nationally supported movement, we’ve brought the fight to the forefront — securing key safeguards, defending the Wilderness in court, and amplifying the voices of everyone who loves this irreplaceable place. But the fight is far from over. 

The Boundary Waters is known for its clean water and unspoiled forests.

The Boundary Waters is America's most visited Wilderness area, with 1.1 million acres of interconnected freshwater lakes, rivers, and forests stretching across northern Minnesota. It’s a refuge for people and wildlife alike, providing some of the cleanest water on Earth, sustaining local economies, and offering a rare sense of freedom, adventure and solitude in today’s busy world.

 

The threat: America’s most toxic industry.

Right now, this pristine watershed is under threat. Powerful political forces and foreign mining interests are moving quickly to open the headwaters of the Boundary Waters to toxic sulfide-ore copper mining — America’s most toxic industry.

100% of copper mines pollute. If allowed here, it would devastate the lakes, rivers, and forests of the Boundary Waters, sending toxic pollution downstream into Voyageurs National Park, Quetico Provincial Park, and beyond.

Once this Wilderness is contaminated, the damage is irreversible. We can win this fight 100 times, but we can only lose the Boundary Waters once.

We can’t do this alone. It takes a movement of people like you to protect this Wilderness. 

Save the Boundary Waters  is leading this movement with proven expertise, steadfast commitment, and relentless advocacy from Minnesota to Washington, D.C.

Here’s how your support makes a lasting difference:

1. ADVOCATE FOR PERMANENT PROTECTION. We’re advancing federal and state legislation to permanently ban sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters.
2. DEFEND IN COURT. Our legal team is prepared to fight in state and federal court to defend hard-won victories and challenge unlawful mining permits.
3. AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. Polling has shown that 70% of Minnesotans — across party lines — support permanent protection. Your donation helps ensure this majority voice is heard loud and clear in the halls of power.
4. DELIVER SOUND SCIENCE. We conduct rigorous water quality monitoring and scientific research that demonstrates exactly why this landscape cannot safely coexist with copper mining.

The stakes have never been higher, we need you now more than ever. 

The federal administration is moving fast to hand over our public lands to foreign mining companies. Now, more than ever, we must defend hard-won victories, confront new threats, and push for permanent protection. In Minnesota, we’re fighting to ensure our state acts as a backstop against federal rollbacks and continues to uphold strong environmental standards. We’ve spent years leading this fight with a team of legal experts, scientists, advocates, and, most importantly, dedicated supporters like you. 

This year, we’ve advanced groundbreaking science, fought off dangerous bills, and rallied thousands of supporters across the country to stand up for the Boundary Waters. But we can’t stop now. The future of this Wilderness depends on what we do in this moment.

 

The Boundary Waters unites us all - we must come together to defend it.

Some places are just too important to lose. The Boundary Waters belongs to all of us — to paddle, to explore, to find peace, and to feel free. With your support, we can defend this national treasure and ensure it remains wild for generations to come.

Every gift, every voice, and every action brings us closer to one goal: permanent protection for the Boundary Waters. Join the movement. Together, we can Save the Boundary Waters — forever.

Donate today