##  [A Novel Approach to Assessing the Cause of Impacts on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities, and Distinguishing Between Sediment Vs Waterborne Effects Downstream of a Metal Mining Discharge](/resource/novel-approach-assessing-cause-impacts-benthic-macroinvertebrate-communities-and) 

Organization

[Stantec Consulting Ltd.](/organization/stantec-consulting-ltd)

[Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA)](/organization/canadian-land-reclamation-association-clra)

 

 

Project

[National CLRA Conference Papers](/project/national-clra-conference-papers)

 

Resource Type

[Report](/taxonomy/term/38)

 

 

Author(s)

Helga Sonnenberg

Lisa Rozon-Ramilo

 

 

Original Authors

Helga Sonnenberg

Lisa Rozon-Ramilo

 

 

Resource Date:

2016

 

Page Length

10

 

 

Hudbay has owned and operated a base metal mine and metallurgical complex in the  
Flin Flon area of northwestern Manitoba for over 90 years. Zinc and copper ores are  
processed from local mines and concentrates from external sources. The Flin Flon  
tailings impoundment system (FFTIS) receives input from several processes, such as  
mill effluent waste, dewatering from underground workings, surface runoff and storm  
water drainage, and runoff from the town of Creighton. FFTIS effluent is discharged into  
Flin Flon Creek, where it comprises approximately 70% of the creek volume. The  
effluent concentration decreases as it flows into the Northwest Arm of Schist Lake,  
where it is approximately 30%.  
Benthic invertebrate community surveys downstream of the FFTIS have shown that  
benthic invertebrate communities in Flin Flon Creek are severely impacted and  
dominated by a single pollution-tolerant species: the midge larva Chironomus (Stantec  
2005, 2007, 2009, 2011). In the NW Arm of Schist Lake, benthic communities are also  
impacted but not to the same extent.