Emily Mine Information Group
Our Projects.
EMIG is actively involved with projects to protect our waters and encourage community participation.
Project 1. Water Testing for baselines
Last fall, EMIG began collaborating with Macalaster College geology department to start a water testing program at 20 "sentinel" wells near the mine site. These sentinel sites establish baselines for the existing levels of manganese and other mining toxins, so that it can be shown if additional activity (such as core drilling) at the mine site creates any increases in toxins.
This spring, the students returned to gather more samples. In addition, in June, the professor and her students will be collecting surface water samples from area lakes.
Project 2. Community workshop 8/18
Once again partnering with Minnesota Humanities Center and Danger Boat Productions, we will be hosting a meal and facilitated community discussion on the the mine at Emily City Hall August 18. A ground water expert and mine permitting expert will also be on hand to provide context for the conversation.
Some of you may remember the previous workshop conducted in 2024. It was a lot of fun and a great way to engage the community in discussion about important topics.
Tuesday, August 18 – Emily City Hall.
4:30–5:30 p.m.: doors open and community exhibits viewing.
5:30–7: 30 p.m.: dinner and program
Project 3. Water Protection grant
EMIG is working with Crow Wing soil and water conservation district as they draft a grant application with other interested local governments and water preservation groups to provide well water testing throughout the Crow Wing County. The grant would provide money for water sampling kits that would be distributed to residents (both permanent and seasonal) that will then be collected and tested by AW Research Lab in Brainerd at no cost to CWD residents. It is hoped the the grant would provide somewhere between 950 and 1,300 testing kits.