Okanogan Highlands Alliance

OHA is a grassroots conservation organization that has worked to protect the environment in the Okanogan Highlands of north-central Washington since 1992. Our work began on Buckhorn Mountain, where we stopped an open-pit gold mine, the “Crown Jewel Project,” in January 2000. In 2002, Crown Resources proposed an underground mine on the same ore body. OHA appealed the proposal and continued to advocate for the protection of the highlands environment. Ultimately, in 2008, the political, legal, and economic situation led to OHA’s decision to enter into negotiations with Crown/Kinross. The agreement between OHA and the company meant that an underground mine would be developed on Buckhorn, but OHA would have better access to the mine site and oversight process. The agreement also stated that OHA would receive funds that would enable us to monitor mining activities and implement mitigation projects in the Okanogan Highlands. Since then, OHA has created robust wetland restoration and natural history education programs that serve the local communities in northern Okanogan County. We partner with organizations from the local to the national level and work to engage people of all ages. OHA is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.