Myra Falls Mine Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program
Client:
Myra Falls Mine
Location:
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
Dates:
February 2025 – December 2025
Background:
Myra Falls Mine required comprehensive data analysis and reporting to meet its Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) obligations under the federal Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER). For Cycle Eight of the EEM Program, the client sought support to analyze and interpret a broad range of environmental data and to prepare the necessary regulatory reporting.
The scope of work included the analysis of stream biological and chemistry datasets, including periphyton biomass and taxonomy, benthic macroinvertebrate communities, sediment quality, and non‑lethal fish population and health metrics. The client also required an evaluation of salmonid embryo‑alevin‑fry bioassay results, along with compiled analytical water quality data and toxicity test results collected between 2023 and 2025. In addition, supporting stream loggers were deployed to collect hydrologic and continuous water quality monitoring data supporting the EEM program. The results of the EEM point towards temperature and conductivity differences supporting increased growth metrics in natural trout populations in Myra Creek.
Services Provided:
Hatfield supported the client with a comprehensive suite of services for the Cycle Eight EEM interpretive report, focusing on spatial and temporal comparisons of key environmental indicators. Our scope of work included detailed analyses of benthic community assemblage indices, periphyton biomass and community structure, sediment chemistry, fish population health, and analytical water quality and toxicity testing. We also collected and analyzed supporting stream‑logger in situ water quality data. These efforts were aligned with EEM requirements to ensure that the report identified statistically significant differences between reference and exposure areas, particularly across spatial gradients upstream and downstream of the mine discharge point.
Our data management, analysis, and reporting adhered to the standard guidance outlined in the Metal Mining Technical Guidance for Environmental Effects Monitoring and the British Columbia Field Sampling Manual for Continuous Monitoring and the Collection of Air, Air‑Emission, Water, Wastewater, Soil, Sediment, and Biological Samples. This approach ensured that our findings were consistent with industry standards and the critical effect levels described in the EEM Study Design submitted in February 2025. In addition, CABIN benthic site data were entered into the federal CABIN database, and the EEM biological data was prepared and submitted to the Environmental Effects Monitoring Electronic Reporting (EEMER) system. Through these services, Hatfield ensured rigorous compliance with regulatory requirements and contributed to the sustainable management of environmental resources.
