Sherridon Mayor Nick Benyk confirmed Monday afternoon that the community is waiting for independent test results to be returned before water containing mine tailings will be released from Camp Lake.
Last week the community was concerned when government officials from the Ministry of Mines scheduled the release of water from Camp Lake into Kississing Lake. Water in the Camp Lake holding site had previously tested at a high acidic level and local officials and residents were concerned that was still the case. Dr. Chris Beaumont-Smith, Manitoba’s director of mines, reported that the water had been tested recently and was safe to be released. However, he agreed to put the project on hold until additional, independent testing done by the community was completed.
“Now we are waiting for the test results to come back,” said Benyk. “We have taken another round of samples and have sent them to an independent lab to confirm the government data.”
Benyk confirmed reports by other members of the community who stated that aquatic life has returned to Kississing Lake in recent years when water stopped draining in from Camp Lake.
“We are happy to see the aquatic life come back,” he said.
The entire project comes from the remediation of a mine site in the community and Benyk reported that the project had gone well up to this point.
“The clean-up has been 90 per cent good, but now we are wanting them to assure us that the water is clean and free of contaminates before it is released,” he said.
According to the mayor, water in Camp Lake looked much clearer earlier in the spring when it had been treated with lime. However, recent winds have stirred up the sediment in the lake and turned the water a murky orange colour. The discolouration comes from iron which is not considered a contaminant, according to Beaumont-Smith.
The community is concerned about the possible contamination of Kississing Lake where people fish, boat and swim.
“We are saying, ‘Is there a better way of getting the tailings from Camp Lake,’” said Benyk. “The area is healing and getting back to normal.” He added that plant and fish life are doing well in and around Kississing Lake at the present time.
“We need to be clear that the water isn’t going to harm the community,” said Benyk.
Test results sent to ALS lab in Winnipeg are expected to be returned at the end of the week, at which time Sherridon town council will meet with provincial government officials to review the results.
