Fish populations are making a comeback in the streams surrounding the former tar ponds and coke ovens sites in Sydney, Nova Scotia, signaling a positive development following the extensive cleanup of historic steel and coal industries in Cape Breton.
The $400 million remediation project was carried out by the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, which later merged into Nova Scotia Lands and now operates under Build Nova Scotia, responsible for monitoring water quality in the streams flowing through the former industrial areas. Donnie Burke, a senior director at the agency, expressed satisfaction with the independent engineering firm’s findings, indicating that the remediation efforts are yielding positive results.
The former coke ovens area was covered with slag rock remnants from the steel plant, while the tar ponds, once Canada’s most contaminated waste site, were encapsulated in concrete. Additionally, efforts were made to clean up Coke Ovens Brook, Wash Brook, and Muggah Creek, with the surrounding lands landscaped to channel surface water into the streams. Groundwater from the coke ovens site is treated before being reintroduced into the streams.
Following the cleanup, both sites were remediated and covered with topsoil and grass. The former tar ponds have been transformed into Open Hearth Park, offering recreational facilities such as sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths. Meanwhile, the coke ovens site now serves as an open field used for various activities like cricket, walking, and snowmobiling.
Water quality testing has shown that the tar ponds cap is effectively containing toxins, while occasional spikes in heavy metals or industrial chemicals at the coke ovens site are promptly addressed through the monitoring system and water treatment adjustments. Burke highlighted the stability and improvement observed since the remediation activities were completed.
Ongoing water testing in the streams and beneath the former coke ovens cap is facilitated through strategically located wells around the sites. Recent studies conducted at Cape Breton University revealed the return of fish species to the streams, with trout eggs and fry spotted in Coke Ovens Brook, indicating improving ecological conditions.
Dr. Katherine Jones, a biology professor at CBU, noted a positive shift in the health of mummichog fish living in the tar ponds post-cleanup, with previous health issues showing signs of improvement. The government’s commitment to monitoring the sites for 25 years following the cleanup has been highlighted, with results regularly shared on Build Nova Scotia’s website.
Burke emphasized the positive trajectory of the monitoring activities halfway through the projected period, indicating a favorable trend. Jones suggested further studies to assess the impact on local fish populations and explore genetic connections with previous inhabitants. The commitment to environmental monitoring underscores the ongoing efforts to ensure the sustained recovery of the ecosystem.