Contributed Photo
Jennifer Pyecha, Environmental Engineer at Fort Knox.
under the dam and pumps it back to the facilities. Backup systems, which are tested regularly, ensure the wells continue operating even in the event of a power outage. In addition, there is an extensive program of daily and weekly inspections to promptly address issues that may arise. Kinross technicians sample surface and ground water quarterly, and manage a storm water pollution protection plan below the tailings dam. Summaries of this monitoring are in their annual reports available on the Alaska Department of Natural Resources website (dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/ mining/largemine/fortknox/annualmeetings.cfm). Kinross also funds ADF&G to monitor water quality in the reservoir and to track annual Arctic grayling and burbot populations. In addition, it undertakes periodic upkeep of the restored creek and wetlands, including clearing beaver dams so that the grayling have clear passage to their spawning habitat in the wetland and overwintering habitat in the reservoir. Having successfully revitalized an important SLMT_L_QZ]ʭ^SLYObTWOWTQP6TY]Z^^ɪRZLW_ZOLdT^ to sustain this success well into the future — for the enjoyment and recreational use by people of Alaska long after the mine is closed and reclama- tion is complete.
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major sources of sediment and contamination in the stream. It also involved consultation with lo- NLWZʯNTLW^_ZPY^`]P_SL__SP " LN]PQ]P^SbL_P] reservoir required for mine operations would also enhance habitat. By implementing these measures, Kinross was ^`NNP^^Q`W TY ]P^_Z]TYR L SLMT_L_ bSP]P YL_TaP ʭ^S populations could thrive. The initial goal was to cre- ate a self-sustaining Arctic grayling population of MP_bPPY#LYO !ʭ^SbT_STY dPL]^ZQbL - terway restoration; in reality, monitoring by Alas- ka’s Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) showed that this goal was achieved in just two years; and in 2016, ADF&G monitoring shows the grayling pop- ulation at 4,396 the burbot is self-sustaining, and the habitat is supporting a variety of birds and wild- life, including the horned grebe, osprey, bald eagle, XTYVZ__P]LYOZ_SP]^[PNTP^_SL_QPPOZY_SPʭ^S The fact that such success has been achieved in an area immediately downstream of the mine’s tailings storage facility is indicative of the high level of environmental protection that is cen- tral to ongoing operations at Fort Knox. A series ZQO]LTY^LYON`_ZʬbPWW^NZWWPN_bL_P]_SL_^PP[^
The Alaska Miner
April 2019
36
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