On August 4, 2014, the retaining dam at the mine's tailings storage facility collapsed, and over 25 million cubic metres of mine tailings and contaminated water poured into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake, part of the Fraser River system, one of the most important salmon rivers in the world. No-one was hurt, but Hazeltine Creek was washed out, and trees and debris washed into Quesnel Lake along with the contaminated material. The effects on water quality and fish is still unknown, and local tourism businesses as well as Indigenous subsistence fisheries have been severely affected. |