Cold Lake/Sherridon Mine Risk Assessment

Client:  Manitoba Conservation

Manitoba Conservation asked UMA to assess the environmental risk of the abandoned Cold Lake/Sherridon mine. Located in Manitoba, this copper-zinc mine had been described by a prominent research scientist as “one of the worst cases of acidic mine drainage in the world.”

UMA set up air monitoring stations and collected water, soil, sediment, vegetation and biological samples. While our extensive field sampling found no significant risks to human health, our investigation did prompt Manitoba Conservation to take remedial action to address the acid drainage from the tailings. If left unabated, this would have continued for centuries, putting the downstream lake system – an area critical to the local economy – at risk.