Dragonflies flit and hover above the glistening clear water; a mama duck swims along the shoreline with her young ones dutifully paddling behind her.
The clean freshness of Adams Lake serves to amplify the horror of what has been inflicted on Polley Lake and the entire Quesnel and Cariboo river systems right to the Fraser River.
This huge, horrendously destructive spill from a four-square-kilometre mine tailings pond containing materials that include more than 400,000 kilograms of arsenic and 177,000 kilograms of lead is nothing short of a national disaster, yet there’s been what I consider an unconscionable downplaying of the ramifications from mine officials and political leaders. Photos and videos belie any soothing words. While this disaster might not have killed human beings outright or flooded their homes, its effects will undoubtedly be felt for years to come, and probably forever.
Salmon, for one, have been described as a keystone species – a species on which all else depends. You might not catch, buy, eat or admire salmon, but they’re crucial to our existence, nonetheless. Indigenous people have known this for thousands of years.
Imperial Metals has another property closer to home. The Ruddock Creek lead/zinc mine above Adams Lake is owned 50 per cent by Imperial Metals, according to its website, and consists of 42 mineral claims totalling 21,156 hectares.
Plans for the Ruddock Creek mine were in the news recently when the federal government waived its environmental review, saying a provincial review would be ample. Local First Nations and others have raised alarms about potential environmental impacts. Whatever the reason for the Mount Polley spill (dare I suggest, in the most unscientific of terms, it appears to be a case of putting too much muck in a container too flimsy to hold it), I don’t think this company should be given another chance. One strike you’re out. Nor should this provincial government. The stakes are far too high.
Concerns were raised about the Mount Polley tailings pond in 2011. At that time the mine’s former engineering firm failed to bid to renew its contract. In a letter to Imperial, it stated: “The embankments and the overall tailings impoundment are getting large and it is extremely important that they be monitored, constructed and operated properly to prevent problems in the future.”
Christy Clark has set the course for more destruction. She’s leading the province down the dead end road to liquefied natural gas extraction and the Site C dam. This mine disaster is just a precursor of what’s to come. Of course we need a solid economic base, but not this way.
If there is any good to come of this heart-wrenching disaster that will undoubtedly kill more creatures, big and small, than we’ll ever know, it’s the possibility that we heed this undeniable warning so the same fate doesn’t befall more river systems, such as the Adams. Imperial Metals should not be allowed to use another precious part of the earth, particularly not on the watch of our current provincial and federal governments.
