The mine is also pumping water out of Polley Lake into the mine’s Springer pit at a rate of about 800 gallons per minute, and into Hazeltine Creek—and thus Quesnel Lake—at about 8,000 gpm, he says. Early estimates call for completion in 120 days.

The water removal is to prevent another breach, because Polley Lake rose about 5 ft immediately after the initial spill. The massive amount of sediment and debris, including fallen trees, created another blockage at Polley Lake and the possibility of another breach. The spill also vastly expanded Hazeltine Creek from about 6.5 ft wide to about 160 ft.

Most of the debris has been contained by booms, “but we continue to gather smaller woody debris and bark,” Robertson says. Next is removing material from the water for later use as saw logs, pulp logs and chipper feed or hog fuel.

Indigenous Peoples

The ministry will continue to monitor Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake water quality, from both short- and long-term public health safety perspectives and for any possible impact on salmon in the lakes and streams.

In fact, Brian Olding, an environmental consultant who works with the Williams Lake and Soda Creek Indian Bands, two of several First Nations groups in the area, recommended in 2011 that a separate sedimentation pond be constructed below the tailings pond to protect the water sources.

Copies went to the bands, as well as to Imperial Metals and the Ministry of Environment, but nothing was done.

These lakes and rivers are the spawning grounds for one of the biggest salmon fisheries on the west coast, Dunbar says.

And people ranging from the First Nations tribes and other residents of the area to the fishing industry to environmental groups are watching the results of the water tests and impact on the area’s salmon fishing.

The Tahltan Nation is trying to halt construction at Imperial’s Red Chris mine, a $570-million project now under construction near Dease Lake in northwestern British Columbia.