The Regional District of the Central Kootenay is closing the Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail from Porcupine Road to Wesco Road from August 12 to 20, as the BC Crown Contaminated Sites Program within the Ministry of Forests begin remediation work at the historic Howard mine mill and tailings site.
The site is located south of Ymir between Highway 6, the Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail, and the Salmo River; immediately north of Porcupine Creek Rd.
Mine tailings from the Salmo River floodplain and contaminated soils around the mill complex will be consolidated at a single location on Crown land and capped with an engineered cover. To prepare the landfill, some tree removal along the rails-to-trails path will be required.
The Province asks the public to play a role in keeping the remediation work areas safe by staying off of the trail, slowing down for workers and driving with care around Porcupine Road near the bridge across the Salmo River.
Tree removal is expected to last eight days and as such the Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail will remain closed to all traffic between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. from August 12 to 20.
