The health of the Bristol Bay watershed and its salmon fishery is an issue of statewide importance: That's the position the State of Alaska took when defending its decision to certify a citizen's initiative that would add another obstacle to the development of Pebble Mine.

Assistant Attorney General Libby Bakalar presented the State's case before the Alaska Supreme Court on Wednesday.

"The mineral deposits and fisheries in the Bristol Bay fisheries reserve impact all Alaskans," argued Bakalar. "They don't just belong to or impact the people living in that region."

Read the full story at Alaska Public Media>>