From restoring streams and habitats and to improving infrastructure, the Copperwood Project is delivering environmental benefits that will support the region for decades
ONTONAGON COUNTY, Mich. — Highland Copper, in partnership with the Ontonagon County Road Commission, today celebrated the completion of the newly constructed Choate Road Bridge over Bluff Creek with a ribbon cutting—an important milestone for the Copperwood Project. This is one of the many conservation and infrastructure initiatives led by the company, demonstrating its long-term commitment to responsible development and economic resilience in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula.
Highland Copper constructed a bridge on Choate Road over Bluff Creek to improve stream habitat quality for fish and wildlife. The company replaced five undersized culverts with the fifty (50) foot clear span bridge, which will reduce stream velocity and significantly improve trout habitat for many miles upstream. The new bridge will also improve road safety and reliability for residents and visitors by reducing long-term maintenance and providing a more durable solution for both the creek and the community.
“Highland Copper is dedicated to supporting sustainable development that strengthens the environment, builds community resilience and creates long-term economic opportunity,” said Mike Foley, site manager at Highland Copper. “This bridge may seem small on a map, but it will create a positive impact on our community and environment for generations to come.”
Highland Copper initiated early site work to meet the obligations of the Wetlands and Stream Permit as part of its long-term commitment to the region. In addition to constructing a new bridge, the 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. The work is now complete, fully compliant with permitting and reflects Highland Copper’s commitment to advancing the project responsibly and ensuring a positive legacy that endures well beyond the lifespan of our mining operations.
“We are grateful to work with a company that’s invested in the community for the right reasons,” said Ryan DeHut, manager of the Ontonagon County Road Commission. “It means a lot to see a partner who cares about developing responsibility by strengthening our infrastructure and protecting the environment. That kind of commitment makes a real difference for Ontonagon County.”
The Copperwood project is one of very few fully permitted greenfield copper mines in the United States and meets Michigan’s strict environmental standards. Michigan’s mining laws, passed with the support of environmental advocacy groups, are among the most stringent in the nation. Copperwood is not permitted to mine under Porcupine State Park or draw water from Lake Superior and has been rigorously designed to prevent any impact on nearby waterways.
“Highland Copper’s work is building up the Western U.P. in ways that go far beyond the Copperwood site,” said Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP. “These investments are strengthening local infrastructure, supporting good-paying jobs our region needs and improving the health of our natural resources. When a company commits to developing responsibly and contributing to the well-being of the communities around them, it creates momentum that lifts the entire region.”
Twenty-one units of government and eleven local institutions have submitted letters of support. Dozens of community leaders and elected officials from the federal level, all the way down to the local level, have also spoken publicly in support of the Copperwood Project, demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
“The Copperwood Project represents the kind of thoughtful, responsible development that the Western Upper Peninsula deserves and is seeking,” said Senator Ed McBroom. “For years, our region has been looking for opportunities that strengthen our economy without compromising the land and water that define who we are and recognize our heritage and experience. Highland Copper has shown a real commitment to doing this the right way. These efforts reflect a long-term, good-faith investment in our communities for generations to come.”
To learn more about the Copperwood Project, please visit www.copperwoodproject.com
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About InvestUP
InvestUP is the regional economic development organization for the Upper Peninsula, working to advance prosperity across all fifteen counties of the U.P. Leveraging the region’s strengths, assets, and stakeholders, it works in partnership with the private sector, municipal and non-profit leadership, and institutions to drive the Upper Peninsula’s economy by seizing near-term opportunities and addressing long term strategic objectives that center on people, projects, place, and promotion. Investupmi.com.
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