From: on behalf of Panel Registry Subject: FW: TNG registration of ...

development. It would, indeed, be a ‘pale shadow’ of such
production.
Mine Closure
The system will not be able to return to pre-development
conditions at mine closure. The outlet flow through Wasp Lake will
be redirected from Prosperity Lake northward through the tailing
impoundment and downward around the high wall at the north end
of the impoundment.
The north flowing water will not join the remnant flow of Fish
Creek toward the Taseko River for approximately 27 years, the time
it will take to fill the abandoned mine pit. <strong>From</strong> the perspective of
trout production Fish Creek outlet will not become a biologically
connected part of Prosperity Lake and tailings impoundment system.
Once the mine is closed, and the pit is filled with water, additional
flow back into the outlet stream will contribute little to
compensation. The remaining out let stream, above the barrier,
would no longer a part of any lake system. Such additional flow
would be expected to improve fish habitat below the Fish Creek
outlet barrier.
I do not have enough information about the situation after the
mining operation is terminated and the pit is filled to be able to
discuss the all-important issues of maintaining the 10.8 km
diversion channel and the spawning and rearing channel. Further to
that, I am not able to consider the issue of sustained operation of
the HCRP outlet flows to it. Who will do it? How long? Who will pay?
Commitments made now by the mining company would have
to be set out firmly with financial backing (performance bond?) so
that the public is not left with a lake unequal to the ones it lost, and
with management costs and responsibilities. At closure time, the
government fisheries agency could be already be overloaded.
This last set of comments go beyond fish biology, however,
they reflect on some of the history of the mining industry and its
legacy of abandoned mines about the province.
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