Don't

worry if you can't keep track of the debate over the Pebble Mine Project. From claims that it'll be an environmental disaster, to hopes that it could give birth to a thousand jobs, it's hard to keep track of whose argument is better.

CBS 11 News traveled to the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska to get a better understanding of what is at stake.

Nestled in the heart of the Bristol Bay region at the shores of Alaska's largest lake, lies the village of Iliamna. For hundreds of years, the Yup'iks here have been salmon people, cutting, drying and even selling the fish to get them through the winter.

"We always made enough money to come home, buy fuel, buy groceries, buy whatever we wanted basically, and then we would live a lot

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on subsistence," said Iliamna resident, Myrtle Anelon.

That was then; this is now.
Combine low commercial salmon prices with higher fuel costs and it adds up to life in Bristol Bay getting harder and harder.

"In the big years, they were getting between two dollars to 2.50 dollars a pound. And then people were coming home with a yearly wage for a few weeks of work. Now, I think the price of salmon was 50 to 60 cents a pound this year, and it's just not there," said Bristol Bay resident, George Hornberger.

Gas is nearly six dollars a gallon here. And heating oil is near six and a half dollars. Those prices are affecting everything: freight costs, grocery bills and even electricity prices.

"Commercial fishing just doesn't create enough money for a person to live out here year round anymore," said Hornberger.

But the alternatives are limited. Like in many rural communities, jobs in Bristol Bay can be hard to come by.

"Out of 40 or 50 people, maybe one or two people had a job," said Myrtle Anelon.

The result can be dependence on the government.

"I saw people who would live on 500 dollars to 800 dollars a month from the state; and that's all they got. That

doesn't help people. They need jobs; they need training," said Myrtle Anelon.

Enter Pebble Mine.

While only in the planning and exploration stages, the mine is creating hundreds of jobs in a region that was in an economic slump--not only bringing residents a paycheck, but also a renewed connection to cultural traditions.

"We are able to live in our communities, live our cultural way, raising our children, not only learning our culture, but also the Western civilized way. Having both of them- I think we are very fortunate to have that," said Iliamna resident, Martha Anelon.

Those residents are calling it the Pebble opportunity. But the rift it's causing in Bristol Bay and across the state could mean that

opportunity could soon disappear.

In Part II of our special series on Pebble Mine, we'll take a look at just how much money is being pumped into the region to develop Pebble Mine and talk to some who say those jobs aren't worth what Pebble Mine could do to the land and fish of Bristol Bay.

To contact Andrea, call 907-273-3186.