Mount Polley Mine Tailings Dam Breach, Williams Lake, BC
On August 4, 2014 very early in the morning Mount Polley Mines' tailings dam breached, releasing over 10 million cubic meters of toxic water into the waters of Polley Lake, and this was a smaller-scale breach.
In addition to the contaminated water over 4 million cubic meters of "slurry", or water containing foreign substances such as small metal particles, concrete, and the like.
The breach expanded and within four days the tailings pond itself was nearly completely emptied of its contents.
The flow of pond water which infiltrated the Polley Lake was not only spread its contamination throughout the waters of the lake, but the breach also carried garbage, mud, trees, and other debris rapidly along the banks of Polley Lake, resulting in the destruction and wearing-away of the banks of connecting Hazeltine Creek, which flows out of Polley Lake.
The extensive debris was then taken down creek and emptied into nearby Quesnel Lake as well.
Damage done to the banks of the creeks and the shores along the two lakes suffered extensive land damage, and the breach resulted in water levels in Polley Lake to rise to nearly 5 feet (2.
5 meters).
Hazeltine Creek, which originally measured just over 6.
5 feet wide was violently broadened to an astonishing 160 foot wide path of destruction.
With Cariboo Creek also suffering from the breach, the incident is recorded as one of the largest scaled environmental disasters Canada has ever seen.
By August 6, two days after the breach was initiated, a state of emergency was declared by the Cariboo Regional District.
This action was taken for the health of the local residents, as the drinking water was now extremely contaminated.
Some areas included in the water restrictions placed by local government were able to return to their normal routines in only a matter of days as they were a further distance from the dam and the breach site.
The local area around Polley Lake however remained under the restrictions.
The salmon population and its procreative processes were interrupted drastically in the area.
Lack of access to clean, healthy water affected the ability to tend gardens and farms, and food production was deeply hurt.
The fish were completely inedible from any of the affected bodies of water, as well as those closely surrounding and connected to them.
The Mount Polley Mine tailings dam breach of August 4, 2014 was indeed one of the most devastating events to take place in that area of British Columbia.
Residents, wildlife, and the local economy were effected in terrible ways, and it took major planning, work, and excessive cost to get the situation rectified.
While the disaster was, and is, a learning experience for all mankind in terms of prevention, inspection, and precaution, the locals in the Mount Polley area will never forget the fear and loss they experienced that day.
In addition to the contaminated water over 4 million cubic meters of "slurry", or water containing foreign substances such as small metal particles, concrete, and the like.
The breach expanded and within four days the tailings pond itself was nearly completely emptied of its contents.
The flow of pond water which infiltrated the Polley Lake was not only spread its contamination throughout the waters of the lake, but the breach also carried garbage, mud, trees, and other debris rapidly along the banks of Polley Lake, resulting in the destruction and wearing-away of the banks of connecting Hazeltine Creek, which flows out of Polley Lake.
The extensive debris was then taken down creek and emptied into nearby Quesnel Lake as well.
Damage done to the banks of the creeks and the shores along the two lakes suffered extensive land damage, and the breach resulted in water levels in Polley Lake to rise to nearly 5 feet (2.
5 meters).
Hazeltine Creek, which originally measured just over 6.
5 feet wide was violently broadened to an astonishing 160 foot wide path of destruction.
With Cariboo Creek also suffering from the breach, the incident is recorded as one of the largest scaled environmental disasters Canada has ever seen.
By August 6, two days after the breach was initiated, a state of emergency was declared by the Cariboo Regional District.
This action was taken for the health of the local residents, as the drinking water was now extremely contaminated.
Some areas included in the water restrictions placed by local government were able to return to their normal routines in only a matter of days as they were a further distance from the dam and the breach site.
The local area around Polley Lake however remained under the restrictions.
The salmon population and its procreative processes were interrupted drastically in the area.
Lack of access to clean, healthy water affected the ability to tend gardens and farms, and food production was deeply hurt.
The fish were completely inedible from any of the affected bodies of water, as well as those closely surrounding and connected to them.
The Mount Polley Mine tailings dam breach of August 4, 2014 was indeed one of the most devastating events to take place in that area of British Columbia.
Residents, wildlife, and the local economy were effected in terrible ways, and it took major planning, work, and excessive cost to get the situation rectified.
While the disaster was, and is, a learning experience for all mankind in terms of prevention, inspection, and precaution, the locals in the Mount Polley area will never forget the fear and loss they experienced that day.