The Highland Copper Company on Thursday showcased its ongoing sustainability projects at the Copperwood Mine site near Wakefield. The company says through the projects, it hopes to improve the area’s ecosystem and offset the mine’s impact. The company says the goal is to create high-quality wetlands that last far after the mine is closed. Work on the 15 acre Gypsy Creek Wetlands began in 2023, and Copperwood Project Environmental Scientist Jay Roberts said the work is having a positive impact, with wildlife already taking hold in the area. He also said the wetlands are removed from the area where mining operations will take place, and a conservation easement will keep the wetlands from being developed. Highland is also diverting the area’s East Stream away from the site of a future tailings management facility. Even with the work being done, environmentalists are still opposed to the project, stating that the area is not an appropriate location for any heavy industrial activity and that over 200 local residents have signed a letter opposing State funding for the project.