Stringent Environmental Protections
Stringent Environmental Protections
Copperwood Project
Michigan has some of the most stringent mining regulations in the nation. Copperwood meets all of Michigan’s mining regulations and permitting standards. Learn more about this project’s environmental protections and background information below.
Background Information
- Michigan’s mining laws, passed with the support of environmental advocacy groups, are regarded as some of the most stringent mining regulations in the nation. Copperwood meets all of Michigan’s mining regulations and permitting standards as established by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE).
- Copperwood Mine will not take water from Lake Superior, nearby streams or groundwater to operate. It will use a combination of rainwater collection and process-water recycling which will minimize the amount of water released to surface waters.
- Copperwood is designed to minimize and mitigate environmental impact, monitor and protect local water, and safeguard Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountain State Park. To this end, Copperwood will preserve or create a wetland at a factor of 12:1 relative to the wetland impacted.
- Copperwood is not permitted to mine under the Porcupine Mountains.
- Water protections implemented at Copperwood will include years of thorough geological analyses, state-of-the-art stream rerouting, a high-quality wetland mitigation area and a conservation easement on more than 700 acres of high-quality wetland in southern Gogebic County.
- The copper being mined has a non-acid generating ore body, meaning it is incapable of producing acidic runoff that would adversely affect the environment and the health of people or animals.
- Copperwood Resources will self-fund a responsible closure plan that includes dismantling key infrastructure and restoring natural habitats at the end of the mine’s life.
Sustainable Action Development
Highland Copper deeply respects and values the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula. We are dedicated to supporting sustainable development initiatives that foster environmental stewardship, community resilience and economic opportunity.
As part of our long-term commitment to the region, we initiated early site work to meet the obligations of our Wetlands and Stream Permit. This work included site clearing, road upgrades and the construction of stream diversion structures as well as extensive sustainable development actions, including planting nearly 20,000 trees and establishing new wetlands.
This work is now complete, fully compliant with permitting and reflects our commitment to advancing the project responsibly and ensuring a positive legacy that endures well beyond the lifespan of our mining operations.
Gipsy Creek Wetland Area
Highland Copper has planted more than 30 different species of wetland sedges, grasses, rushes, wildflowers and trees to create 14 acres of new and improved wetland habitat. These efforts have shown promising results, with a diverse array of seeded and planted species starting to thrive. This habitat has already become home to wildlife such as killdeer, spotted and solitary sandpipers, painted turtles, and multitudes of frogs, underscoring the ecological success of this initiative and our commitment to preserving biodiversity.
Stream Diversion
As part of the stream diversion project, Highland Copper is reconstructing the stream banks of the newly constructed streams in accordance with our permit conditions. To date, we’ve planted over 20,000 trees and 14,000 live stakes in the wetland and stream mitigation areas. Plant growth throughout the reconstructed streams has been robust. The trees and stakes represent a variety of species native to Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula, designed to maximize plant diversity and improve habitat quality.
The video below compares footage of the stream diversion and wetland mitigation taken during construction in October 2024 (before) with footage from October 2025 (after), following our sustainable development efforts and re-vegetation, showing the natural growth now filling in.
Bridge construction on Choate Road over Bluff Creek
Highland Copper constructed a bridge on Choate Road over Bluff Creek in cooperation with the Ontonagon County Road Commission to improve stream habitat quality for fish and wildlife. We replaced five culverts under the bridge, which will reduce erosion and significantly improve trout habitat for many miles upstream.
The video below compares footage of the Choate Road bridge over Bluff Creek before reconstruction in October 2024 and after it was rebuilt in October 2025.
Mitigating Environmental Impacts
Learn more about our commitment to minimize and mitigate environmental impacts.