Water Legacy Speaker: Mike Maleska (He/Him)

Mike will provide compelling proof that we have a serious problem with liquid mining waste in NE MN, including photographs of all the tailings reservoirs from Silver Bay to Side Lake and from Ely to Grand Rapids. These photos were taken from the air on 3 flights privately paid for in June and July of this year - 2025. Mike will demonstrate the process (with visuals) whereby sulfate is converted to sulfide then chemically joins with mercury to become fat soluble methyl mercury - making itself available for consumption and absorption by all life forms in the environment. That includes micro invertebrates, their larvae, eggs, crustaceans, minnows, fish, and possibly ducks, deer, and those of us who consume them. He will show how the sulfated water easily escapes the massive tailings reservoirs crowding our landscape, and hydraulically leaches into surrounding lakes, rivers and streams polluting all 3 watersheds here. He will show how these toxic fugitive ‘waters’ kill wild rice and how it happens over decades, not weeks. He will provide us with options that have nothing to do with shutting down existing mines, and will, contrary to the rhetoric of mining advocates, PRODUCE jobs. These jobs will not require highly skilled workers during the actual cleanup once a scientifically proven & effective process is implemented. He will   also address some raw falsehoods disseminated by miners and how that benefits mining companies.

BIO: Mike is a Retired Miner, Lifelong Minnesotan, Environmental Activist, Union Strong, USMC Veteran, BWCAW, LGBTQ Ally, Doomsday Prepper, Canoeist, Hunter, Fisherman, Progressive, Woke, ANTIFA.