Yukon, federal governments reject proposed placer mine on creek used for drinking water

The Yukon and federal governments have rejected a proposed placer mine along a creek outside Whitehorse, after local residents and First Nations argued it would cause irreparable harm to the waterway that they rely on.

The territory's Mineral Resources Branch, along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, this month signed off on an earlier recommendation from the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) to say no to the project.

The board decided last May that the proposed placer mine, on 11 claims along Stony Creek, would have "significant adverse effects to water quality and quantity for fish, fish habitat, human consumption and cultural water uses that cannot be mitigated."

The project is about 52 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse and about 10 kilometres northeast of the Mendenhall subdivision. It is within the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. 

An Alberta-based miner, Willy Driedger, proposed the mine, which would have involved building several fords across the creek and a camp big enough for a crew of 12. It would also divert part of the creek and use up to 4,001 cubic metres of water per day.

Shortly after the project was proposed, some Yukoners began fighting against it, fearing irreparable impacts to water that is considered clean enough to drink straight from the creek.

In its recommendation, YESAB noted hundreds of people rely on Stony Creek, a tributary of the Takhini River, for their drinking water. Some say they use the water because local wells are contaminated with uranium.

The Kwanlin Dün First Nation, in a submission filed to the board, said the majority of Ibex Valley residents depend on the creek for drinking water.

YESAB also noted chinook salmon could be greatly affected by the proposed mine. It said that for decades, juvenile salmon have been observed in the creek by First Nations citizens or researchers.

The territorial and federal governments issued a joint decision document this month, accepting YESAB's recommendation about the project, as is — but also saying the proponent could redesign the project and try again.

"This decision does not preclude submission for assessment under YESAA [Yukon Environmental and Soci-economic Assessment Act] of a redesigned project that introduces alternative approaches that address the concerns within the evaluation report," it reads.

Randi Newton, with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's Yukon chapter, called it a "good decision all around."  

"This placer mine was in absolutely the wrong spot ... Stony Creek is clearly a place deeply intertwined with people's lives," she said.

Newton said it would have been "devastating" if the decision bodies — the Yukon and federal governments — had rejected YESAB's recommendation.

"There aren't mitigations that can protect the water and so we shouldn't be putting communities through this again and again and allowing projects to apply here," she said.

"Let's just protect it and the territory can use tools to protect sources of drinking water. It's just not a good use of anyone's time to go through this again."