December News
Long Lake and Area Residents:
Our LL Stewardship Committee continues to work on our stated mission “to work in collaboration with others as required to positively influence the ecological health and sustainability of Long Lake and its watershed".
We have appreciated the support of many of you in our efforts, as evidenced by the many volunteers who helped with the Long Lake Milfoil Mapping (LLMM 2018) this summer. We continue to work with the City on a digital platform for sharing the map that will indicate locations of EWM beds.
Thank you also to those who supported us by attending the September AGM at Kivi Park Clubhouse. The draft AGM minutes are available for viewing at our website longlakestewardship.com.
At the request of our LLS Committee, the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (ENDM) has provided an update on the Gold Mine Remediation Project. See below the summary from lead engineer, Kurt Westhaver. We appreciate the due diligence undertaken by the ENDM on this project and the detailed data provided.
Finally, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Scott Darling, Mary Henderson, Richard Witham, Lori Adams, Forbes Stoodley, Susan Darling, Bill Dopson
UPDATE:
Mr. Darling,
Thank you for contacting the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines regarding the Long Lake Gold Remediation project. The Ministry is committed to keeping stakeholders informed as planning for this project continues. This email provides the results of the most recent water quality monitoring campaign, as well as an overview of the field investigations performed at two potential on-site sources of aggregates.
Long Lake Water Sampling Results (see excel file for reference purposes to info below)
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The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines (ENDM) performed surface water sampling at Long Lake on October 31, 2018. Water samples were collected at a total of twelve (12) locations extending downstream from Moxam’s Landing to the discharge to Round Lake. The water quality results were received by ENDM on November 8, 2018. An updated copy of the ‘Summary Long Lake Water Quality’ spreadsheet is attached which includes water quality data for sampling dates ranging from September 2012 to October 2018 as well as a map of ENDM’s sample locations. Water sampling at Long Lake is performed approximately three (3) times per year; the next sampling date is scheduled for spring 2019.
Total arsenic concentrations exceeded the Ontario Drinking Water Standard (ODWS) of 10 µg/L at five (5) of the twelve (12) locations sampled on October 31. Arsenic concentrations in the bay at the Southwest end of the lake (Sample IDs: LL1, LL3, LL4, LL25, and LL Deep) ranged from 20 µg/L at LL4 to 600 µg/L at LL1. These five (5) locations have consistently exceeded the ODWS for total arsenic over the past 6 years.
In July of 2018, total arsenic concentrations in exceedance of the ODWS were observed at LL21 and LL22; two sampling locations located immediately upstream of the bay. At that time, the elevated levels were believed to be a result of reduced freshwater inflow into Long Lake and (as a result) minimal discharge to Round Lake. Due to the increased precipitation in the Sudbury region during the late summer/fall period of 2018, the total arsenic concentrations observed at LL21 and LL22 on October 31 were both reduced 1 µg/L, well within the ODWS. The arsenic concentrations further upstream (Sample IDs: LL24, LL23, LL5, and LL6) were also found to be 1 µg/L.
If you have any questions regarding ENDM’s surface water monitoring program at Long Lake please contact myself or Eric Cobb Ph: (705) 670-5624 Email: eric.cobb@ontario.ca. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the health risks associated with arsenic please contact Public Health Sudbury and Districts at 705-522-9200.
On-Site Aggregate Pit & Quarry Field Investigations
***************************************************************************************************************************As part of construction planning, ENDM has been actively exploring the viability of potential nearby and on-site sources of aggregates to reduce the need for importing large volumes of material using residential roads, addressing the concerns raised by a member of the public in fall of 2017. To this end, geotechnical, archaeological and natural science investigations were carried out at two (2) on-site locations in 2018: a proposed aggregate pit adjacent to the Site Access Road, and a proposed quarry northwest of what is referred to as Tailings Area 1 or ‘TA-01’.
Geotechnical investigation of the proposed quarry site was completed by SNC-Lavalin (SNC) between August 7 and 14. Boreholes were drilled at multiple locations using a track mounted drilling rig, with core samples sent for lab analysis. Archaeological assessments of both the proposed quarry and aggregate pit sites were completed by AECOM on August 28 and 29, while geotechnical investigation of the aggregate pit was completed on October 31 and November 1 by SNC. These activities involved the digging of test pits using an excavator. Vegetation community surveys of the quarry and pit sites were completed on July 11 and 12 by SNC. If you have any questions or concerns regarding ENDM’s ongoing investigation of the proposed quarry and pit locations please contact myself or Eric Cobb.
Kind regards,
Kurt Westhaver, MASc, EITMine Project Engineer
Mineral Development and Lands Branch, Mine Rehabilitation and Compliance Section
Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines
933 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury ON P3E 6B5
t: 705-670-5731 | c: 705-561-9127 | f: 705-670-5613