Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Primary GIS Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Summary of Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Appendix I: Tailings Pond FacilitiesNumber and Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Appendix II: Waterways, Watersheds, and Tailings Ponds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Appendix III: First Nations Communities and Tailings Ponds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Appendix IV: Settlements and Tailings Ponds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Appendix V: Anadromous Fish and Tailings Ponds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Appendix VI: Regional Detail Map Series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Page 1
Page 2
Foreword
Many look to the landscapes of British Columbia and see vast, unoccupied lands rich with
resources that are free for the taking. However, for First Nations in British Columbia, these
lands have been occupied since time immemorial and their riches cannot be counted treeby-tree, fish-by-fish, or stone-by-stone. Instead, the wealth of these landscapes can only be
known through the relationships between the people, the lands, and the waters. It is because
of the knowledge of these relationships that First Nations in British Columbia assume a
responsibility in deciding how the lands and resources in British Columbia are to be used.
Unfortunately, capacity to participate as equal partners in decision-making is low among
British Columbias more than 200 First Nations communities. However, lack of capacity can no
longer be an excuse for governments and industry to exclude First Nations from the decisionmaking table. Nor can we as indigenous peoples afford to watch from the sidelines as others
make decisions that will affect our communities, lands and resources both today and in the
future.
Perhaps nothing better illustrates this than the catastrophic failure of the tailings dam at
Mount Polley. Expected to last in perpetuity, the tailings dam breach released 25 million
cubic metres of mine waste into the receiving environment. The disaster not only devastated
communities living downstream but also triggered anxiety in government, industry experts,
shareholders and, most especially, communities living downstream of major tailings facilities
across the province as everyone wondered, Could a similar event happen again?
Following the investigation into the Mount Polley disaster by an expert panel, we now know
that without significant changes to the current mining practices, in British Columbia
alone we can expect two tailings dam failures every 10 years.
With this latest disaster occurring on August 4, 2014, the clock continues ticking down
reminding us we no longer have the luxury of time. We do, however, have an opportunity
to make lasting change and ensure that no community will ever face the same devastation
experienced by the communities downstream of Mount Polley. This will demand a
commitment to work together with government and industry in order to change past
practices that can impact, sometimes irreversibly, the homes and livelihoods of First Nations.
Page 3
Executive Summary
Since the failure of the Mount Polley tailings facility in August, 2014, there has been increased
awareness of the long-term risks from potential failures of tailings facilities to the fish, wildlife,
and general ecology of downstream rivers and lakes and the communities that depend on
them. This GIS-based analysis of northern British Columbia and southeast Alaska (starting
at Mount Polley and extending north to the Yukon border) shows the streams, rivers, lakes,
and wetlands that would be impacted by a failure in existing tailings facilities, the special
habitats for salmon and other fish and wildlife within the potentially impacted areas, and the
First Nations communities and other cities and settlements that could be affected by future
tailings failures.
The analysis includes 35 tailings ponds at 26 mine site locations in northern British
Columbia (from Mount Polley to the Yukon border). The mines encompassed in this area are
listed in Appendix I and include Red Chris, Endako, Mount Milligan, Yellowjacket, and others.
A total of 8,678 kilometres of streams, rivers, and lakes lie downstream of the flow paths
of contaminants that would result from failures in the 35 tailings ponds facilities within the
selected area. Of this total, 3,275 kilometres are immediately downstream of these tailings
facilities and 5,403 kilometres are further downstream where the contaminants could
eventually reach.
Within the selected area, there are 33 First Nations communities in watersheds that could
be impacted by failures in the 35 tailings facilities, including 17 (52%) that would be within
watersheds impacted by immediate flow paths of contaminants. Additional First Nations
communities further upstream of potential contaminant flow paths may also be affected
because of impacts to migrating fish that could be impacted downstream of a tailings facility
failure.
There are 208 additional cities and settlements within watersheds that would be
impacted by downstream flow from failures of tailings facilities69 in watersheds that would
receive immediate contaminant flows from failures in tailings facilities and 139 in watersheds
that would receive eventual contaminant flows.
Page 4
Because mining activities take place on Indigenous peoples traditional lands and
disproportionately impact Indigenous communities, the principle of free, prior and informed
consent must be applied in advance of mining operations, from exploration through all
phases of development, including post-closure. Project planning must engage and be led by
the communities which are most connected with these landscapes.
A high priority should be placed on protecting entire river, lake, and wetland ecosystems
from industrial activities and impacts. A renewed focus on establishing headwater to mouth
watershed protected areas for river systems with full complements of migratory fish is needed
to compensate for freshwater habitat and biodiversity lost and impaired in other watersheds.
Protected areas should encompass watersheds and waterways to ensure that rivers remain
unfragmented and hydrological flows remain unimpaired.
Mining companies and government entities should ensure that communities impacted by
mining activity secure lasting, long-term economic benefits that enhance community health
and sustainability. Communities and the public should be protected by funding mechanisms
against unanticipated post mine-closure impacts or financial burdens for clean-up and
remediation.
Page 5
Introduction
Northern British Columbia is one of the most visually stunning and ecologically vibrant
regions in North America. From dramatic snow-capped mountains to lush river valleys
and majestic lakes, this still largely pristine region harbors a rich variety of wildlife that has
sustained indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
Rivers such as the Stikine, Nass, and Skeenathe origins of which form what is often called
the Sacred Headwatersas well as many others provide large networks of salmon and
steelhead spawning habitat that have not been heavily altered, blocked, or degraded by
human activities.1 These migratory fish provide sustenance and income for many northern
First Nations communities and provide a healthy supply of fish for the major fisheries in
southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia.
These fish populations also constitute a critical food source for the grizzly bear and form an
integral part of the biological food web. Anadromous fish like salmon and steelhead have
been found to reallocate considerable amounts of sea-born nutrients to the inland aquatic
communities upstream where they breed as well as to the terrestrial environments in those
watersheds via predatory birds and mammals.2 And although the British Columbia interior
has witnessed heavier industrial disturbance levels than northern regions of some provinces,
the intricate networks of rivers and lakes throughout the region continue to provide critical
spawning habitat for the well-known Fraser River salmon run.
Northern British Columbia is also increasingly being viewed as one of North Americas next
great mining boom regions. The opening of numerous large mining projects as well as the
construction of the Northwest Transmission Line, which was built primarily to provide energy
for large industrial projects in northwestern British Columbia,3 has led to projections of as
much as a 300 percent increase in mining output in northern British Columbia between 2011
and 2020. This would make it the fastest expansion of mining output of any northern mineral
region in all of Canada.4
Indicative of this dichotomy in what defines northern British Columbia, the headwaters of
the Stikine, Nass, and Skeena Rivers may be described as the Golden Triangle by a mining
executive or the Sacred Headwaters by an ecologist or First Nations member.
Page 6
Page 7
The catastrophic failure of a tailings storage facility at Mount Polley in August, 2014, not only
shocked citizens of nearby cities, settlements, and First Nations communities, it caught the
attention of the entire nation. An independent review of the tailings dam breach found the
incident occurred due to structural flaws and failure to detect a weak layer in the structures
foundation.5 In response, the Government of British Columbia ordered all mining companies
with tailings facilities to investigate whether similar foundation materials are present and
moved to implement new requirements to establish independent review boards for tailings dams.6
Even with the implementation of stricter guidelines and more thorough reviews, however,
there is simply no guarantee that another incident similar to Mount Polley will not occur in the
future. In fact, an appendix in the official report on Mount Polley estimated that an average
of two failures would occur per decade within the province.7 A catalogue of dangerous
occurrences at mining operations across the province, released publicly by the Vancouver
Sun, contained 49 occurrences documented between 2000 and 2012, including a breach of
a dike, leaked tailings, and the discovery of sinkholes, among others.8 A major earthquake
or other unpredictable environmental event could increase both the likelihood and severity
of a future incident and make an existing disaster exponentially worse, both socially and
ecologically.
The nature and extent of potential future tailings facility failures depends on the geology
of the region and the magnitude of the failure. A synthesis of submissions to the Chief
Inspectors Orders found that of the 50 dams reviewed and classified by the time of
publication, 29 were found to have either high, very high, or extreme potential for
environmental and cultural value lossesi or populations at riskii upon failure.9
The concentrations of toxins in many tailings ponds are highly deleterious to fish and aquatic
life and can leave streams and rivers absent of most living creatures in extreme cases, such as
a major breach of a tailings dam.10 This analysis focuses on potential threats to the cities and
communities of northern British Columbiaboth indigenous and non-indigenousas well
as spawning and migratory habitat of anadromous fish populations (salmon and steelhead) in
the event of future tailings facility failures.
i Classifications of definitions pertaining to environmental and cultural values: High = Significant loss, restoration
highly possible; Very high = Significant loss, restoration possible but impractical; Extreme = Major loss of critical
habitat, restoration impossible.
ii The population at risk is ordinarily located in the dam-breach inundation zone (e.g., as permanent residents);
three consequence classes (high, very high, extreme) are proposed to allow for more detailed estimates of potential
loss of life (to assist in decision-making if the appropriate analysis is carried out).
Page 8
It is not intended to imply that all of the tailings facilities analyzed will at some point fail;
rather, it is meant to provide a comprehensive summary of potential threats from future
tailings facility failures in Northern British Columbia, as well as act a cautionary exercise for
future planning given the increase in interest and capacity for future mining operations
throughout the region.
Strathnaver
Raush Valley
Cinema
Greening
Moose
Heights
Cottonwood
River Beaver Pass House
Cotwood
Lhtako
Dene
Stanley
Wingdam
Coldspring House
Quesnel
Rich Bar
Gravelle Ferry
Australian
?Esdilagh
First
Nation
Castle Rock
Barkerville
Cottonwood
Barlow
Baker
Wells
Quesnel Forks
Alexandria
Marguerite
Gibraltar
Likely
Hydraulic
Mount Polley
Quesnel River
Macalister
Xatll
(Soda Creek)
Hargreaves
Twan Creek
Horsey
Miocene
Pine Valley
Comer
Williams Lake
Sugarcane
Settlements / Communities
Highways
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
Map 1: Full extent of eventual contaminant flow path from Mount Polley, as well as potential future flow
paths in the event of a failure at Gibraltar or other mines upstream of Quesnel.
Page 9
Yellowjacket
Cassiar-McDame
Taurus Gold
Fort Nelson
Juneau
Golden
Bear
Red Chris
Lawyers/Cheni
Shasta/Multinational
B & Baker Mill
Snip
Kemess South
Bell
Terrace
Prince Rupert
Kitimat
Smithers
Mount Milligan
Granisle
Bullmoose
Wolverine Coal
Quinette
Pinchi Lake
Equity Silver
Endako
AREA
OF MAP DETAIL
!
Prince George
Huckleberry
Quesnel
Gibraltar
!
!
Mount Polley
Settlements / Communities
Highways
Map 2: The full extent of contaminant flow paths in the event of future tailings pond facility failures within
Northern British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Because definitions of Northern British Columbia vary
depending on political, popular, or ecological context, this analysis encompassed a broad interpretation,
beginning at Mount Polley to the south and ending at the Yukon border to the north.
Page 10
Summary of Findings
All figures are representative of the area analyzed and are estimates based on the best
available GIS sources. For practical purposes and due to the fact that they are isolated from
these waterways and watersheds, islands off the coast of British Columbia were not included.
Tailings Facilities Analyzed:
35 tailings facilities at 26 mining operation sites were analyzed.
Commodities mined and status vary by mine and tailings facility.
Most sites featured one tailings facility, however some featured two or more.
Page 11
Chum Salmon:
1,229 kilometres of Chum Salmon habitat is downstream of a tailings facility.
1,207 kilometres of Chum Salmon habitat would require migrating through a potential
contaminant flow path.
47% of Chum Salmon overall habitat is either downstream of a tailings facility or would
require migrating through a potential contaminant flow path.
Coho Salmon:
2,184 kilometres of Coho Salmon habitat is downstream of a tailings facility.
6,132 kilometres of Coho Salmon habitat would require migrating through a potential
contaminant flow path.
58% of Coho Salmon overall habitat is either downstream of a tailings facility or would
require migrating through a potential contaminant flow path.
Page 12
Pink Salmon:
1,512 kilometres of Pink Salmon habitat is downstream of a tailings facility.
2,015 kilometres of Pink Salmon habitat would require migrating through a potential
contaminant flow path.
53% of Pink Salmon overall habitat is either downstream of a tailings facility or would
require migrating through a potential contaminant flow path.
Sockeye Salmon:
2,735 kilometres of Sockeye Salmon habitat is downstream of a tailings facility.
5,910 kilometres of Sockeye Salmon habitat would require migrating through a potential
contaminant flow path.
79% of Sockeye Salmon overall habitat is either downstream of a tailings facility or would
require migrating through a potential contaminant flow path.
Steelhead:
1,229 kilometres of Steelhead habitat is downstream of a tailings facility.
3,085 kilometres of Steelhead habitat would require migrating through a potential
contaminant flow path.
66% of Steelhead overall habitat is either downstream of a tailings facility or would require
migrating through a potential contaminant flow path.
Page 13
Company
Status
Tailings
Commodity
Watershed Name
Bell
Closed
Babine Lake
Bullmoose
Teck Coal
Closed
Metallurgical coal
Murray River
Cassiar-McDame
Closed
Endako
Operating
Mo
Francois Lake
Equity Silver
Goldcorp
Closed
Bulkley River
Eskay Creek
Closed
Unuk River
Gibraltar
Operating
Cu, Mo
Narcosli Creek
Golden Bear
Closed
Sheslay River
Granisle
Closed
Babine Lake
Huckleberry
Operating
Johnny Mountain
Skyline Gold
Closed
Kemess South
Closed
Firesteel River
Lawyers/Cheni
Closed
Toodoggone River
Mount Milligan
Operating
Nation River
Mount Polley
Imperial Metals
Operating
Au, Ag, Cu
Quesnel River
Pinchi Lake
Teck
Closed
Hg
Stuart Lake
Boliden
Closed
Unuk River
Quintette
Teck Coal
Metallurgical coal
Murray River
Red Chris
Red Mountain/Jumbo
Closed
Kshwan River
Toodoggone River
Shasta/Multinational B
Sable Resources Ltd.
& Baker Mill
Snip
Closed
Table Mountain/Cusac
Dease Lake
Taurus Gold
Closed
Wolverine Coal
Walter Energy
Operating
Murray River
Yellowjacket
Au
Atlin Lake
Page 14
Length
Immediate Watersheds
3274.9
Watersheds Downstream
5403.2
Total
8678.2
Due to the interconnected nature of aquatic health and wildlife within watersheds as well as
the broad geographic range of human reliance on the streams, rivers, and lakes contained in
them, threats from tailings facility failures cannot be looked at solely in terms of where the
contaminants would flow directly.
Watersheds in which tailings ponds are embedded would typically experience the worst
effects from contamination upon a tailings failure. However, adverse effects are expected in
watersheds adjoining the immediately impacted watershed depending on the volume and
extent of contamination and the specific hydrology of that region. Additionally, impacts from
contamination in spawning habitat for populations of anadromous fish could impact the
well being of communities and biodiversity that depend on them throughout their entire
migratory range.
Page 15
Within the area analyzed, a total of 48 watersheds either contain or are downstream of
tailings facilities. Nineteen distinct watersheds contain tailings facilities while an additional
29 watersheds lie downstream of tailings facilities. Nearly one in three watersheds (48 of 165)
either contain or lie downstream of tailings pond facilities overall.iii
Ten watersheds contain more than one tailings pond facility, with Murray River (upstream
of Fort St. John) containing the most with four. A total of 40 watersheds contain or
are downstream of more than one tailings facility, while 25 watersheds contain or are
downstream of four or more separate tailings pond facilities, with Twan Creek downstream of
the most at nine (including Mount Polley).
Table 3: Watersheds Containing or Downstream of Tailings Pond Facilities
Watershed
Tailings
Within
Mine Names
Atlin Lake
Yellowjacket (2)
Babine Lake
Babine River
Tailings
Upstream
Mine Names
Cheslatta River
Huckleberry (2)
Coal River
Dease River
Dunedin River
Finlay Arm
Finlay River
Inklin River
Golden Bear
Iskut River
Red Chris
Kalum River
Kispiox River
Red Chris
Huckleberry (2)
Beaver River
Bulkley River
Equity Silver
Cottonwood River
Dease Lake
Firesteel River
Kemess South
Francois Lake
Endako (3)
Kshwan River
Red Mountain/Jumbo
Liard River
Lower Chilako River
Lower Iskut River
Lower Nechako Reservoir
Page 16
Tailings
Within
Mine Names
Tailings
Upstream
Mine Names
Nechako River
Parsnip Arm
Peace Arm
Stuart River
Tabor River
Kemess South
Yellowjacket (2)
Endako (3), Gibraltar, Huckleberry (2), Mount Polley, Pinchi Lake (2)
Cassiar-McDame, Taurus
Gold
Murray River
Narcosli Creek
Gibraltar
Nation River
Mount Milligan
Pine River
Quesnel River
Mount Polley
Sheslay River
Golden Bear
Stuart Lake
Toodoggone River
Lawyers/Cheni, Shasta/
Multinational B & Baker
Mill (2)
Tutshi River
Twan Creek
Unuk River
Red Chris
Huckleberry (2)
Page 17
iv First Nations communities are based on datasets provided by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Canada. Each First Nation point represents its office address as it is registered in Aboriginal Affairs and Northern
Development Canada (AANDC) or Band Governance Management System (BGMS). When the First Nation office is
located outside its associated reserve boundary, adjustments are made to relocate the point within the boundaries
of the most populated site (First Nation reserve/settlement/village with the largest population out of all reserves/
settlements/ villages belonging to that First Nation) when applicable.
Page 18
Watershed
Tailings in
Watershed
Twan Creek
Cheslatta Carrier
Francois Lake
Dease River
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
Yes
Yes
Yes
Gitanmaax
Kispiox River
Yes
Gitanyow
Kispiox River
Yes
Gitsegukla
Kispiox River
Yes
Gitwangak
Kispiox River
Yes
Hagwilget Village
Bulkley River
Yes
Iskut
Yes
Kispiox
Kispiox River
Yes
Kitselas
Kalum River
Yes
Kitsumkalum
Kalum River
Yes
Kwadacha
Toodoggone River
Yes
Lake Babine
Francois Lake
Lheidli T'enneh
Tabor River
Lhtako Dene
Narcosli Creek
Moricetown
Bulkley River
Nadleh Whuten
Nechako River
Nak'azdli
Stuart Lake
Nee-Tahi-Buhn
Francois Lake
Saik'uz
Nechako River
Yes
Saulteau
No
Kispiox River
Yes
Yes
7
Yes
Yes
Yes
5
Yes
Yes
Yes
Skin Tyee
Francois Lake
Yes
Stellat'en
Francois Lake
Yes
Atlin Lake
Yes
Tl'azt'en
Stuart Lake
Yes
Finlay Arm
Francois Lake
West Moberly
Wet'suwet'en
Francois Lake
Twan Creek
Yekooche
Stuart Lake
5
3
Yes
5
No
Yes
3
9
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Page 19
Page 20
Watershed
Narcosli Creek
Tailings in
Watershed
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
Yes
Yes
Yes
Amsbury
Anyox
Kshwan River
Atlin
Atlin Lake
Australian
Narcosli Creek
Yes
8
Yes
Baldonnel
Yes
Baldy Hughes
Tabor River
Yes
Barlow
Quesnel River
Yes
Barrett
Bulkley River
Yes
Basford
Tabor River
Yes
Bear Flat
Yes
Cottonwood River
No
Beaverley
Yes
Beryl Prairie
Yes
Blessing's Grave
Cottonwood River
No
Bond
Pine River
Yes
Bonnet Hill
Tabor River
Yes
Watershed
Tailings in
Watershed
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
Yes
Braeside
Nechako River
Briar Ridge
No
Bridge
Tabor River
Yes
Buckhorn
Tabor River
Bulkley Canyon
Bulkley River
Cassiar Townsite
Castle Rock
Twan Creek
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cedarvale
Kalum River
Yes
Charella Garden
Tabor River
Yes
Cheslatta
Cheslatta River
Yes
Chetwynd
Pine River
No
Cinema
Cottonwood River
No
Clayhurst
Yes
Clemretta
Francois Lake
Coldspring House
Cottonwood River
Yes
3
7
Yes
Colebank
Cottonwood River
Yes
College Heights
Tabor River
Yes
Colleymount
Francois Lake
Cottonwood
Cottonwood River
Yes
3
7
Yes
Cotwood
Cottonwood River
Yes
Crysdale
Tabor River
Yes
Danskin
Francois Lake
Davidson
Yes
Dawson Creek
No
Dokie
Pine River
No
Dokie Siding
Pine River
No
Yes
Donald Landing
Babine Lake
Dorreen
Kalum River
3
4
Yes
Yes
Dunkley
Cottonwood River
No
East Pine
Pine River
Yes
Encombe
Francois Lake
Yes
Endako
Francois Lake
Yes
Engen
Nechako River
Yes
Engineer
Tutshi River
Yes
Evelyn
Bulkley River
Yes
Exstew
Yes
Finmoore
Nechako River
Yes
Fireside
Yes
Flatrock
Yes
Foreman
Tabor River
Yes
Page 21
Watershed
Fort Babine
Babine Lake
Fort Fraser
Nechako River
Tailings in
Watershed
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
Yes
Yes
Foss
Pine River
Yes
Fraser
Tutshi River
No
Fraserview
Tabor River
Yes
Glenannan
Francois Lake
Yes
Glentanna
Bulkley River
Yes
Goodlow
No
Grand Haven
Yes
Granisle
Babine Lake
Yes
Grassy Plains
Francois Lake
Yes
Gravelle Ferry
Quesnel River
Yes
Greening
Cottonwood River
Groundbirch
Murray River
Gundy
Yes
Yes
4
9
No
Halliday
Yes
Hargreaves
Twan Creek
No
Hart Highlands
Yes
Hasler Flat
Pine River
No
Haysport
Yes
Hixon
Cottonwood River
Yes
Houston
Bulkley River
Yes
Houston District
Municipality
Bulkley River
Yes
Huble
Tabor River
Yes
Hudson Hope
Yes
Hulatt
Nechako River
Yes
Huntington
Bulkley River
Yes
Hutchison
Hydraulic
Quesnel River
Yes
Hyland Ranch
Sheslay River
No
Iracard
No
Isle Pierre
Yes
Kilkerran
No
Kitsault
Kshwan River
Kitselas
Kalum River
Knockholt
Bulkley River
Kwinitsa
Lejac
Francois Lake
Lemoray
Pine River
Page 22
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
4
Yes
Yes
No
Watershed
Liard Forest
Coal River
Likely
Quesnel River
Log Cabin
Tutshi River
Lone Prairie
Murray River
Tailings in
Watershed
Tailings Upstream
4
Within 20-km
No
Yes
2
4
No
Yes
Lower Post
Yes
Macalister
Twan Creek
Yes
Mackenzie
Parsnip Arm
Yes
Mapes
Nechako River
Yes
Marguerite
Twan Creek
Yes
Yes
Yes
Marilla
McCall
Nechako River
McDame
McDonalds Landing
Francois Lake
Miocene
Twan Creek
Yes
Yes
9
No
Miworth
Yes
Monias
Pine River
Yes
Moose Heights
Cottonwood River
Yes
Nechako
Yes
Nichol
Yes
Nichols
Tabor River
Yes
Noralee
Francois Lake
Yes
North Bulkley
Bulkley River
Yes
North Nechako
Yes
Nulki
Nechako River
Yes
Yes
Old Fort
Babine Lake
Old Remo
Pacific
Kalum River
Palling
Francois Lake
Yes
4
Yes
Yes
Pendleton Bay
Babine Lake
Yes
Perow
Bulkley River
Yes
Pinchi
Stuart Lake
Pine Valley
Pine River
Yes
Pinegrove
Cottonwood River
No
Pineview
Tabor River
Yes
No
Pitman
Kalum River
Yes
Port Essington
Yes
Porter Landing
Dease Lake
Pouce Coupe
Premier
Unuk River
Prince George
Tabor River
No
9
No
Yes
Yes
Page 23
Watershed
Tailings in
Watershed
Quesnel
Quesnel River
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
No
Yes
Yes
Quesnel Forks
Quesnel River
Yes
Quick
Bulkley River
Yes
Red Rock
Tabor River
Yes
Refuge d'oiseaux de la
rivire Nechako
Nechako River
Yes
Ritchie
Kalum River
Yes
Rolla
No
Rosswood
Kalum River
No
Rupert
Tutshi River
Yes
Salvus
Savory
Francois Lake
Scotia Bay
Atlin Lake
No
Shady Valley
Yes
Shames
Yes
Shelley
Tabor River
Sheraton
Francois Lake
Sheslay
Sheslay River
Skeena
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
4
Yes
Smithers
Bulkley River
Yes
Smithers Landing
Babine Lake
Yes
South Dawson
No
Tabor River
Yes
Southbank
Francois Lake
Stanley
Cottonwood River
Stewart
Kshwan River
Stoner
Tabor River
Strathnaver
Cottonwood River
Streatham
Sundance
Pine River
Surprise
Atlin Lake
Yes
7
No
Yes
Yes
7
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tabor
Tabor River
Yes
Taku
Tutshi River
Yes
Taylor
Yes
Teko
Yes
Telachick
Yes
Telkwa
Bulkley River
Terrace
Kalum River
Page 24
Yes
4
Yes
Watershed
Tailings in
Watershed
Kalum River
Thunderbird
Tibbets
Francois Lake
Tintagel
Francois Lake
Tomslake
Tailings Upstream
Within 20-km
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Topley
Bulkley River
Yes
Topley Landing
Babine Lake
Yes
Tulsequah
Inklin River
Tumbler Ridge
Murray River
Yes
Tupper
No
Twidwell Bend
Pine River
No
Two Mile
Bulkley River
Tyee
Urquhart
No
Usk
Kalum River
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Valley View
Yes
Vanderhoof
Nechako River
Yes
Vanway
Tabor River
Yes
Peace Arm
Yes
Wabi
Pine River
Watson
Francois Lake
4
3
Yes
Yes
Wedgwood
Yes
Weneez
Nechako River
Yes
White Pass
Tutshi River
Wiley
Bulkley River
2
1
No
Yes
Willowvale
Nechako River
Yes
Wingdam
Cottonwood River
No
Wistaria
Woodcock
Kalum River
Yes
2
4
Yes
Woodmere
Bulkley River
Woodpecker
Cottonwood River
1
7
Yes
Yes
Worth
Yes
Page 25
Page 26
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
2574.98
16
10238.20
64
Unaffected Habitat
3218.78
20
12813.18
80
Total Habitat
16031.96
100
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
1228.87
24
1206.93
23
Unaffected Habitat
2778.40
53
2435.80
47
Total Habitat
5214.20
100
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
2183.71
15
6132.14
42
Unaffected Habitat
6135.81
42
8315.84
58
Total Habitat
14451.65
100
Page 27
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
1511.89
23
2014.83
30
Unaffected Habitat
3152.71
47
3526.72
53
Total Habitat
6679.43
100
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
2735.32
25
5909.74
54
Unaffected Habitat
2271.87
21
8645.06
79
Total Habitat
10916.93
100
Length (km)
Downstream of Tailings
1229.43
19
3085.18
47
Unaffected Habitat
2185.65
34
4314.62
66
Total Habitat
6500.27
100
Page 28
Pavey
Log Cabin
Fraser
White Pass
Skagway
Tutshi River
Surprise
Engineer
Atlin
Yellowjacket
Taku River
Tlingit
Atlin Lake
Haines
Dease
Lake
Tulsequah
Inklin River
Juneau
Porter Landing
Sheslay River
Dease Lake
BR
Golden
Bear
ITI
SH
CO
)
AN
SA
(C
(U
AD
A)
Iskut
IA
KA
Settlements / Communities
Tahltan
MB
SA
Medium / Large Cities
Telegraph Creek
Glenora
LU
AL
Tailings Storage Facilities
Cariboo Meadows
Highways
Map 3
Page 29
YUKON TERRITORY
Lower Post
Cassiar-McDame
Beaver River
Fireside
Dease River
Taurus Gold
Dease River
Cassiar
Nelson Forks
Liard River
McDame
Dunedin
River
Coal River
Middle
Dease
River
Magnum Mine
Boulder City
Red Chris
Tailings Storage Facilities
Medium / Large Cities
Settlements / Communities
First Nations Communities
Map 4
Page 30
Highways
ORIES
NORTHWEST TERRIT
Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson
Steamboat
Kahntah
Prophet River
Trutch
Highways
Map 5
Page 31
BR
ITI
SH
CO
)
AN
SA
(C
(U
IA
KA
MB
SA
LU
AL
AD
A)
Upper
Iskut
River
Iskut River
Snip
Petersburg
Johnny Mountain
Eskay
Creek
Wrangell
Unuk River
Granduc
Red Mountain/Jumbo
Kshwan
River
Ketchikan
Anyox
Arrandale
Mill Bay
Map 6
Page 32
Highways
Hyland Post
Lawyers/Cheni
Toodoggone River
Ware
Kwadacha
Shasta/Multinational
B & Baker Mill
Firesteel River
McEvoy Flats
Finlay River
Kemess South
Tsay Keh Dene
Ingenika Mine
Kuldo
Babine River
Kitsault
Gitanyow
Gitwinksihlkw
Cedarvale
Hazelton
Kispiox
Sik-e-dakh
(Glen Vowell)
Gitanmaax Hagwilget
Gitwangak
Bulkley River
Gitsegukla
Old Hogem
Germansen Landing
Finlay
Arm
Takla Lake
Kispiox River
New Aiyansh
Laxgalt'sap
Bulkley House
Moricetown
West Landing
Fort Babine
Babine Lake
Smithers Landing
Nation River
Bell
Granisle
Watersheds Immediately Impacted By Flows
Originating From Tailings Storage Facilities
Watersheds Potentially Impacted By Flows
Originating From Tailings Storage Facilities
Hydrologic Flow Paths Below Tailings Storage
Facilities and Affected Wetlands and Lakes
Highways
Map 7
Page 33
ALBERTA
MBI A
BRIT ISH COLU
Sikanni Chief
Pink Mountain
Boring Ranch
Altona
Buick
Wonowon
Beatton Ranch
Peejay
Blueberry River
Simpson Ranch
Montney
Doig River
Rose Prairie
Lexau Ranch
Halfway River
Bear Flat
Flatrock
Attachie
Worth
Monias
Hudson Hope
Peace Arm
Saulteau
Willow Valley
Bond
West Moberly
Dawson Creek
Foss
South Dawson
Chetwynd
Pine Valley
Parsnip Arm
Lemoray
Azu Ski Village
Mackenzie
Pine River
Bullmoose
Upper Cutbank
Murray River
Wolverine Coal
Quinette
McLeod Lake
Page 34
Gundy
Tumbler Ridge
Mount Milligan
Map 8
Lower
Peace
River
Lone Prairie
Highways
Port Simpson
Lax Kw'alaams
Georgetown Mills
Metlakatla
Tow Hill
Masset
Delkatla
Prince Rupert
Hunts Inlet
Port Essington
Lewis Island
Sewall
Port Clements
Juskatla
Kwinitsa
Tyee
Lower
Skeena
River
Gitxaala
Tlell
Lawnhill
Skidegate
Sandspit
Queen Charlotte
Moresby Camp
Sewell Inlet
Tasu
Highways
Map 9
Page 35
Granisle
Rosswood
Smithers
Kalum River
Telkwa
Terrace
Bulkley River
Kitsumkalum
Salvus
Lower
Skeena
River
Babine Lake
Tl'azt'en
North Bulkley
Equity Silver
DuBose
Kitimat
Lake Babine
Burns
Lake
Huckleberry
Nadleh Whuten
Endako
Weewanie
Stuart Lake
Wet'suwet'en
Francois Lake
Haisla
Nak'azdli
Palling
Houston
Hartley Bay
Pinchi Lake
Grand Rapids
Topley Landing
Yekooche
Kitselas
Shames
Granisle
Endako
Cheslatta River
Marilla
Fort Fraser
Stellat'en
Nechako
River
Lower
Nechako
Reservoir
Gitga'at
Butedale
Lhoosk'uz Dene
Ulkatcho
Kimsquit
Kitasoo
Ulkatcho
Nuxalk
Heiltsuk
Map 10
Page 36
Highways
Anzac
Stuart River
Salmon Valley
Vanderhoof
Saik'uz
Prince George
Nechako
Mapes
Nechako River
Sinclair Mills
Lheidli T'enneh
Lower
Chilako
River
Tabor River
Punchaw
McBride
Hixon
Strathnaver
Blackwater
Nazko
Cottonwood River
Barkerville
Cottonwood
Quesnel
Stanley
Barlow
Lhtako Dene
Gibraltar
Narcosli Creek
?Esdilagh
Twan Creek
Quesnel River
Mount Polley
Xatll
(Soda
Creek)
Highways
Map 11
Page 37
Endnotes
1. Lee, P., M. Hanneman, J. Gysbers, and R. Cheng. 2010. Cumulative access in Canadas forest ecozones. Global
Forest Watch Canada, Edmonton, AB.
2. Wilson, M.F., S.M. Gende, and B.H. Marston. 1998. Fishes and the forest: Expanding perspectives on fishwildlife interactions. BioScience 48: 455-462.
3. BC Hydro. 2011. Investing For the Future: Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) Project. BC Hydro, Vancouver, BC.
4. Rhaume, G., and M. Caron-Vuotari. 2013. The Future of Mining in Canadas North. The Conference Board of
Canada, Ottawa, ON.
5. Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Panel. 2015. Report on Mount Polley Tailings
Storage Facility Breach. Province of British Columbia, Victoria, BC.
6. Province of British Columbia. 2015. Government takes action on Independent Panel Recommendations.
Province of British Columbia, Victoria, BC.
7. Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Panel. 2015. APPENDIX I: Report on Mount Polley
Tailings Storage Facility Breach. Province of British Columbia, Victoria, BC.
8. Vancouver Sun, The. 2014. 49 Dangerous Occurrences at B.C. Mines. The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC.
Available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/237701788/49-Dangerous-Occurrences-at-B-C-Mines (Accessed
April 2015).
9. Hatch Ltd. 2015. Synthesis and Analysis of Submissions to the Chief Inspectors Orders For Project
Management, Engagement and Geotechnical Review of Dam Safety Inspections in BC. Prepared for the British
Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines. Hatch Ltd., Vancouver, BC.
10. Kimmel, W.G. 1983. The impact of acid mine drainage on the stream ecosystem. Pennsylvania Coal: Resources,
Technology, and Utilization. Pennsylvania Academic Science Publications: 424-437.
11. Chapman, G., and D. Stevens. 1978. Acutely lethal levels of cadmium, copper, and zinc to adult male coho
salmon and steelhead. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 107(6):837840.
12. McIntyre, J.K., D.H. Baldwin, D.A. Beauchamp, and N.L. Scholz.2012. Low-level copper exposures increase
visibility and vulnerability of juvenile coho salmon to cutthroat trout predators. Ecological Applications
22:14601471.
Page 38