Susitna River
RSSNews from Susitna River, Alaska
Local organizations and topics
Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
AI image
Nova Minerals says state approved its antimony mine and Port MacKenzie refinery plans
Nova Minerals told federal securities regulators Tuesday that the state has given final approval to its plan to mine antimony ore about 80 miles southwest of Trapper Creek and refine it at Port MacKenzie.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has not posted the signed decision.
Nova's subsidiary, Alaska Range Resources of Palmer, would dig stibnite, the ore antimony comes from, at its Estelle project, sort it there and refine it at Port MacKenzie, according to Nova's release. The company says the approvals finish its permitting about three months after it applied and allow construction and operation for "an initial three-year term." It's aiming to start production in 2027.
The drafts DNR put out for comment in September ran from 2026 to 2031. They set a reclamation bond, money set aside to put the ground back, at about $6.6 million, and the reclamation draft barred operations until the bond is posted. Whether those terms changed won't be clear until the signed decision is public.
DNR's public notice also described the work in narrower terms than Nova does: "a bulk sampling program and small-scale refining pilot plant to test and determine the feasibility of producing antimony concentrate and refined antimony trisulfide."
What did you make of this story? (no account needed)
Have a story from Susitna River? Send a tip
Latest
State puts emergency erosion work on Talkeetna's only highway out to bid
The Susitna River has been chewing at the bank near the only highway into Talkeetna. The state wants erosion protection in place there by Dec. 15.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom 
Arctic's warmest summer since 1950 included the rain that flooded the Susitna Valley
The July rain that flooded the Susitna Valley is now logged as an extreme event of the warmest Arctic summer since 1950, according to a new climate review.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A barge of secondhand equipment is bringing a military antimony refinery to Port MacKenzie
A barge of secondhand refining gear is headed for Port MacKenzie to start a $43.4 million military project for a metal the US stopped mining in the 1990s.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago3 min read
AIDEA commits $25 million to drill under the West Susitna road
AIDEA committed up to $25 million to drill under a road with no buildable design yet, and its resolution names the three resource projects it would serve.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Coho must go back in the water on the Susitna and Little Susitna
You can still fish for coho on the Susitna. You can't keep them. The Little Susitna is projected at 2,104 fish against a goal of at least 9,200.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Two of Juneau's most accessible coho streams close to fishing to protect weak runs
Two of Juneau's most accessible coho streams, Montana and Peterson creeks, close to coho fishing Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 to protect weak salmon returns.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Two rounds of rain this week could flood Susitna Valley gravel bars
Two rounds of rain this week could push rivers in the Susitna Valley toward bankfull. Gravel bars and low riverside camps may end up underwater.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Yentna River passes flood stage near Lake Creek with water expected in lodge cabins
The Yentna is over flood stage near Lake Creek, with water expected in cabins at two lodges. It should crest around 21 feet Tuesday morning.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su loses its fall silver harvest, with one river closed without even a count
Mat-Su loses its fall silver harvest on the Susitna and Little Susitna after four weak coho years — one river closed without a count, its weir washed out.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Willow Creek forecast to reach minor flood stage Tuesday under Susitna Valley flood watch
Willow Creek is forecast to reach minor flood stage Tuesday morning during Alaska's primary election, with 2 to 4 inches of rain expected across the Susitna Valley through Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
ADF&G closes Northern District set gillnet fishing for 12 hours Monday
Alaska closes Northern District set gillnet fishing for 12 hours Monday to protect coho salmon escapement into Cook Inlet streams.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A sockeye surge doubles the Fish Creek salmon limit for a week
A strong sockeye run means Fish Creek anglers can keep six salmon a day through Aug. 15 — double the usual limit — before it drops back to three.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Yentna River crest ties to flood risk for Lake Creek lodges
Yentna River crested at 22.52 feet Thursday near Lake Creek, two feet above flood stage and high enough to push water into cabins at seven fishing lodges along the Western Susitna Valley.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
In Talkeetna, a debate over whether weather or a bridge is eroding the riverbank
Weather, or a rebuilt railroad bridge? As Talkeetna's bank erodes, one river-watcher says the bridge choked the river — and that's the fixable cause.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Yentna flood warning runs to Friday after forecast crest above 22 feet
Yentna River flood warning stays in effect until Friday afternoon as water threatens lodges near Lake Creek, with debris including trees flowing downriver.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Weak coho run cuts Little Susitna limit to one fish, bans bait
A weak coho run cut the Little Susitna limit to one fish and banned bait through Sept. 30, with just 438 fish counted against a goal of over 9,200.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Heavy rain now expected in the Mat-Su, with rivers set to crest Wednesday
Heavy rain is now expected in the Mat-Su, 3 to 5 inches, with rivers cresting Wednesday. The Yentna and Talkeetna corridors hit weeks ago are most exposed again.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Third gear cut in a week leaves setnetters absorbing a weak Susitna run
Fish and Game has cut Northern District setnet gear three times in a week over a weak Susitna sockeye run, leaving about 530 family permit holders to absorb it.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Talkeetna's erosion fight reaches a new stage: buying people off the riverbank
Talkeetna's erosion fight has reached buyout territory: the borough wants federal money to pay people off the riverbank, if the state covers the match.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Water is over roads in the Lower Matanuska Valley
Heavy rain has the Little Susitna up and water over roads near North Sushana Drive, with a flood advisory for the Lower Matanuska Valley until Friday morning.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
The Yentna is a foot over flood stage, and cabins are taking water
The Yentna is running a foot over flood stage, with water already in cabins at two Susitna Valley lodges and more rain coming through Thursday.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su Assembly declares Talkeetna flood emergency, seeks state aid for permanent fix
Mat-Su Assembly declared a local emergency over Susitna River flooding in Talkeetna to unlock state aid for a permanent fix that could cost over $20 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Flood Watch expands to Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula as atmospheric river intensifies
Flood watch expanded Sunday to Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula as atmospheric river brings 2 to 4 inches of rain and 55 mph winds through Monday. • Yentna River in Susitna Valley forecast to crest above flood stage by Tuesday, threatening cabins at two lodges. • River users warned to expect higher water levels and monitor forecasts closely through midweek.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Rain forecast for Yentna and Skwentna gravel bars through Monday night
Rain forecast for the Yentna and Skwentna River basins Saturday night through Monday night may push rivers to bankfull, threatening gravel bars and low-lying camping areas.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Yentna and Skwentna rivers headed for high water
Rain's about to shove the Yentna and Skwentna to bankfull — so if your camp is on a gravel bar this week, it's about to become a sandbar with a view of the bottom.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A small gold permit, on a river fighting for its future
A routine gold-mining permit on a Susitna tributary is a small piece of a much bigger fight over a salmon river conservationists just named one of America's most endangered.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su sockeye opens up — but the kings stay closed
Two Mat-Su sockeye fisheries just opened, with a few early fish already in the inlet — while kings stay closed across the Susitna and beyond, hatchery spots aside.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Deshka king run collapse forces Cook Inlet closures amid allocation fight
The Deshka king run is projected to come in at under half its minimum goal, and ADF&G is closing fisheries to save what's left.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
NWS warns Susitna Valley gravel bars may flood by Wednesday
National Weather Service warns gravel bars and campsites across the Susitna Valley will flood by Wednesday as 1 to 2 inches of rain falls and rivers crest.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
If you're camped on a Susitna gravel bar this week, watch the river
Up to 3 inches of rain is about to hit the Susitna Valley, and the gravel bars everyone camps on are exactly what floods first. Maybe move the tent.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Five wildfires under investigation overnight in southcentral Alaska
Five wildfires broke out overnight in southcentral Alaska's Susitna basin as a Red Flag Warning takes effect Saturday, with burn permits suspended statewide.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
The Eklutna Tailrace is the only open king salmon fishery in the Mat-Su
King salmon fishing is closed across the Mat-Su except for the Eklutna Tailrace, a hatchery fishery open year-round with bait and multiple hooks allowed.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
King salmon closures spread across Mat-Su and West Cook Inlet as runs remain weak
Alaska closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Susitna drainage and West Cook Inlet
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su king salmon fisheries closed amid conservation concerns
Alaska closed king salmon fishing in Susitna River, Little Susitna River, and West Cook Inlet through July 2026 due to low salmon numbers. • Gear restrictions apply to all fishing in those drainages, even when targeting other species. • Eklutna Tailrace opens late May with king salmon available if you buy a stamp. • Rainbow trout and northern pike fishing open at other Mat-Su lakes.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom 
State to use fish pesticide in Sucker Lake to kill invasive pike
Alaska will treat two lobes of Sucker Lake with rotenone in August 2026 to kill invasive northern pike that threaten salmon and trout across Southcentral Alaska.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readHouse Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
House Finance heard sharp debate Wednesday on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a mining subsidy and supporters touting economic development.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read