Page 5 - Donlin Winter Newsletter

WINTER SAFETY
By Vernon Chimegalrea and Mark Leary
Donlin Gold is proud of its decade-long partnership with Bethel Search and Rescue (BSAR) as they strive to ensure safety for the Y-K Delta’s residents’ safe travel, a partnership that fits well with Donlin’s motto of “Every Person Going Home Safely Every Day.”
In its partnership with BSAR, Donlin Gold has provided financial support of over $100,000 dollars to augment BSAR’s annual operating expenses; this is in addition to providing reflective markers for the winter ice roads and trails to villages. Additionally, we appreciate the BSAR’s partnership with Donlin’s Summer and Winter Safety Program, distributing life vests throughout the Y-K Delta and working on a collaboration to distribute personal reflectors to school-aged students of the area’s school districts, a need during Alaska’s long, dark winters.
For the past several years in mid-November, BSAR
has been conducting aerial freeze-up surveys of the Kuskokwim River. Each consecutive year, aerial surveys
Open water maps made from the November 18 BSAR Aerial Survey of the Kuskokwim River are widely distributed to warn winter travelers of potential danger areas.
are conducted for comparison and record keeping of previous years.
Truck travel has already begun on the Lower Kuskokwim River as of the beginning of December, although there is no official Ice Road yet. The existing “truck trail” is not plowed or marked, but local tribal transportation and search and rescue groups have begun a limited amount of marking. Donlin Gold appreciates the hard and dedicated volunteer work of the Bethel Search and Rescue team’s efforts to keep the Y-K Delta’s residents out of harm’s way. “Much of this important work to keep our winter travelers safe would not be possible without the continued support of Donlin Gold,” said Mark Leary, BSAR volunteer.
Kudos to the team of dedicated volunteers at BSAR.
Keep up the good work!
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