NEW VIDEO: Mine Waste and the Fraser River Watershed
January 16, 2016
Do you remember the huge mine tailings dam that burst at BC’s infamous Mount Polley Mine in 2014, spilling an estimated 25 million cubic metres of mine waste and water into nearby creeks and Quesnel Lake?
We sure do.
The stories and images from the Mount Polley disaster were so heartbreaking – so we decided to do something about it!
We travelled across the province visiting some of British Columbia’s largest tailings ponds, talking to people in nearby communities and thinking about what can be done to prevent mine pollution in our rivers and lakes.
Now, we’ve produced a brand new video that sheds some light on how mine waste is affecting the most important salmon watershed in BC – the Fraser River watershed.
This video was co-produced by the Wilderness Committee and River Voices Productions, and features eye-opening aerial footage of some of BC’s largest mine tailings ponds. It also features exclusive interviews with First Nations members who are worried about how mining practices could affect the food and water resources their communities rely on.
With over 90 permitted tailings ponds at mines that are closed or operating throughout the province, BC communities, watersheds and wild species like salmon are facing some serious risks. The massive dams at these facilities are holding back increasing amounts of mine waste mixed with water, and some mines are even permitted to release effluent directly into waterways.
The health and well-being of British Columbians and our world famous salmon runs are at stake. We say it's time to ban risky tailings ponds in BC!
Please watch the video, “like” it and then share it as widely as possible on social media or by forwarding this email to your friends and family. Raising public awareness about this issue is critical in order to prevent another mining disaster like Mount Polley!
You can read more about our BC mining campaign on our website. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks and months.
For the wild,
Joe Foy | National Campaign Director
