Dear John,
I first visited the Boundary Waters when I was just 8 years old. Instantly, I was struck by the clearest water and the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. There were more types of fish and birds than I could fathom at that age. I knew I had seen the most beautiful thing in the world.
The Boundary Waters is a nationally protected, breathtaking landscape of over a million acres of interconnected lakes, rivers, and forests in northern Minnesota—just a four-hour drive from my home.
Words cannot describe the water’s clarity; it’s one of the few places left where the water is so clean you can drink straight from the lake. Within the town of Ely, which serves as the entrance to the Boundary Waters, you’ll meet some of the kindest, most generous people, all of whom rely on the region’s multi-million-dollar outdoor economy.
But all of this is under threat. If the proposed sulfide-copper mining is allowed to move forward, it could pollute the water, devastate wildlife, and destroy livelihoods. Once the water is polluted, it can never be restored.
Just over a year ago, I was given the amazing opportunity to fight for the Boundary Waters in our nation’s capital, telling this exact same story. There, I met incredible people from all different backgrounds who came together with one shared passion: to save the Boundary Waters. Over the next five days, we participated in more than 30 meetings, presenting to members of congress and spreading our love for the Boundary Waters.
