It may not be among the sexiest causes in the world, but it might be crucial to anyone who makes their living near the Stikine River.

The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition went before the US Forest Service’s Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) seeking funding for a “Baseline Water Quality Monitoring” project along the Stikine River. Based only on preliminary discussion at the meeting, it appeared to be a non-starter for the RAC.

However, the coalition’s project could have serious ramifications for calculating potential harm caused by a mining boom over the border in British Columb...