The Yukon government has announced the discovery of the first dead fish in Haggart Creek downstream of the Eagle Gold Mine and its heap leach pad disaster.
“On August 2, Victoria Gold personnel discovered dead fish in Haggart Creek,” the government said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“Upon discovering the dead fish, the company ceased discharging water from the mine water treatment plant and fish were collected and stored for future analysis. No additional dead fish have been observed since Aug. 2.”
Activities, other than fishing, that result in the deaths of fish are prohibited under the federal Fisheries Act, which is enforced by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
“The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is aware of the situation and has ordered Victoria Gold Corporation to implement mitigation efforts following this event,” the government said.
“Over the weekend, under instruction from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Victoria Gold Corporation constructed a series of fish barriers in various locations along Haggart Creek, upstream and downstream of the discharge location.
“The Department of Environment collects daily water samples from several locations along Haggart Creek and downstream of the mine. The department compares the results of these samples to water licence requirements, aquatic health guidelines and drinking water standards.”
Randi Newton of the Yukon chapter of CPAWS said “this is yet another warning that Victoria Gold is not prepared to treat and manage the highly contaminated heap leach solution. The Yukon government must step in and remove Victoria Gold from the site.”
The problems began with a massive heap leach pad landslide that occurred on June 24.
“It’s also deeply saddening that this disaster is disrupting the life cycle of the McQuesten watershed,” Newton added.
“Instead of being eaten and feeding the body of a predator or person, or dying naturally and returning to the earth, these fish will be dissected in a lab and thrown in the garbage. Unfortunately, these dead fish are just a small example of the ecological and cultural disruption this disaster will continue to cause,” she said.
The Yukon Party provided just a brief statement.
“We await the appointment of the independent review board that will determine why this incident happened, and that will give guidance as to how to prevent it from ever happening again,” said the official Opposition.
NDP Leader Kate White said Yukoners “are watching an environmental disaster play out in real-time. They’ve been told Vic Gold has stopped discharging contaminated water into Haggart Creek, but it’s a matter of time before this happens again, given that Vic Gold doesn’t have the capacity or the wherewithal to treat or store water at Eagle Mine.
“The First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun has called on the Yukon Liberals to step in, so when will they?” asked White.
