Fish have been observed returning to the streams surrounding the former tar ponds and coke ovens areas in Sydney, N.S., signaling a positive outcome following the extensive cleanup of decades of industrial activity 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 traversing the former industrial zones.
Donnie Burke, a senior director at the agency, expressed satisfaction with the results of independent assessments by an engineering firm, indicating the effectiveness of the remediation efforts. He highlighted the stability or improvement in various parameters, underscoring the progress made during a recent inspection.
The coke ovens site, previously covered with slag rock remnants from the steel plant, and the tar ponds, once infamous as Canada’s most hazardous waste site, were both treated. Coke Ovens Brook, Wash Brook, and Muggah Creek were cleaned up, with the surrounding areas landscaped to channel surface water into the streams. Groundwater from the coke ovens site is directed to a treatment facility before being discharged back into the streams. The sites were then covered with topsoil and grass.
The former tar ponds have been transformed into Open Hearth Park, offering recreational facilities such as football and soccer fields, playgrounds, walking paths, and open spaces. The coke ovens site now serves as an open field for activities like cricket, walking, and snowmobiling in winter.
Water testing confirmed that the tar ponds cap is effectively containing toxins, while occasional spikes in heavy metals or industrial chemicals from the coke ovens site, typically after heavy rainfall, are promptly addressed through the monitoring system and adjusted water treatment processes.
Ongoing monitoring has shown encouraging signs, with the sites displaying stability or improvement since the implementation of remediation measures. Recent studies, including research by Cape Breton University, have documented the return of fish species to the streams, with trout eggs and fry recently observed in Coke Ovens Brook, indicating a positive ecological shift.
Dr. Katherine Jones, a biologist at CBU, noted improvements in the health of mummichog fish residing in the former tar ponds post-cleanup. Water testing continues in the streams and under the coke ovens cap through strategically placed wells.
Burke emphasized the government’s commitment to monitoring the sites for 25 years post-cleanup, with regular updates available on Build Nova Scotia’s website. The ongoing monitoring efforts have shown promising trends, affirming the positive trajectory of environmental recovery in the area.