The release of water containing mine tailings near Sherridon is still on hold.
Manitoba’s Mineral Resources department was scheduled to release water from Camp Lake, a holding site containing submerged mine waste known as tailings, into Kississing Lake in July.
While the government had tested the water and deemed it safe for release, members of Sherridon town council pressured the province to wait for additional testing.
Mike Moncour, a research hydrogeologist, was on site in July to perform testing for the community.
Samples and data he collected were sent to both the University of Waterloo and University of Saskatchewan for analysis.
“We are still waiting on those results, but all work has been stopped for the time being,” said Coun. Debi Hatch, who pushed for the additional testing and was instrumental in delaying the water’s release.
Hatch said that once the results come back, a meeting will be set up to review the data. Town council, the Manitoba government and Moncour will be invited.
Dr. Chris Beaumont-Smith, director of the mines branch of Mineral Resources with the Manitoba government, confirmed the work is on hold until the independent test results come back.
“Once properly treated, the water from Camp Lake will be released into Kississing Lake, but this will not happen until extensive consultation has occurred,” said Beaumont-Smith. “The community expressed an interest to hire an independent consultant to review the department’s plans to release water from Camp Lake into Kississing Lake. With input from the community’s consultant, the department will outline its plans for work this winter and this spring, through public meetings.
“After the community consultations are complete, we will draw up plans to finalize the rehabilitation of Sherridon mine, which will include adjusting the pH of Camp Lake until on-site water quality aligns with federal guidelines for its safe and controlled release. Once the lake is lowered, the removal of the water treatment plant and associated infrastructure and the final placement of acid-generating material can be completed.”
Kississing Lake has become a popular recreation site. Families in the area enjoy swimming, boating and fishing in the water, and some are concerned that the water from Camp Lake will contaminate Kississing Lake.
Last winter, the province spread lime dust on the frozen surface of Camp Lake in an effort to neutralize the water evenly during the spring thaw.
Citizens of Sherridon became concerned when wind blew the fine dust into the community, including the nearby school and playground.
Should the lime dust be spread again this spring, Hatch is concerned with how the community will be affected.
But Beaumont-Smith said it’s a common practice to “treat” a body of water by placing lime on its frozen surface.
“By doing this in the winter, the lime is evenly distributed over the surface of the water as the ice melts in spring time,” he said, “which neutralizes the lake water, an important step in making it safe for release to other bodies of water. We will be covering the lime with water to prevent any material blowing off the ice.”
As rain and snow continue to raise water levels in Camp Lake, government officials feel it is necessary to perform a controlled release of the water.
However, they have agreed to wait for independent testing prior to resuming the work.
“We plan on treating the lake water using lime this winter and will monitor how the lake responds in the spring,” said Beaumont-Smith. “The lake water must meet federal water quality guidelines for release and once we are assured that the water quality meets discharge guidelines we will share the results of the treatment with the community and outline our plans to discharge the treated water before any release.”
