Fish populations have been observed returning to the creeks surrounding the former tar ponds and coke ovens sites in Sydney, N.S., indicating positive progress following the extensive cleanup of historical steel and coal industry remnants 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 to oversee water quality monitoring in the creeks running through the former industrial areas.
According to Donnie Burke, a senior director at the agency, independent assessments by engineering firms confirm the effectiveness of the remediation efforts. He expressed satisfaction with the current trend of stability or improvement in the environmental conditions during a recent inspection. The coke ovens area, previously covered with slag rock from the steel plant, and the tar ponds, once infamous as Canada’s most hazardous waste site, have undergone significant transformations. Coke Ovens Brook, Wash Brook, and Muggah Creek were cleaned up, and the surrounding areas were landscaped to channel surface water into the creeks, with groundwater from the coke ovens site being treated before re-entering the waterways.
Both sites were subsequently restored with topsoil and grass cover. The former tar ponds have been redeveloped into Open Hearth Park, featuring recreational amenities like sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths. Meanwhile, the coke ovens site now serves as an open space for activities like cricket, walking, and snowmobiling in winter.
Water quality assessments have shown that the tar ponds cap is successfully preventing the release of toxins, while occasional spikes in heavy metals or industrial chemicals at the coke ovens site are promptly monitored and managed through the water treatment system. Burke highlighted the overall stability and improvement since the implementation of the protective covers.
Ongoing water testing in the creeks and beneath the former coke ovens cap is conducted through a network of wells across the sites. Recent studies conducted by Cape Breton University have revealed the return of small fish species to the creeks, with trout eggs and fry sighted in Coke Ovens Brook. Dr. Katherine Jones, a CBU biologist, noted improvements in the health of mummichog fish within the tar ponds area post-cleanup, with signs of previous health issues disappearing.
Jones emphasized the need for further research to ascertain the impact of the remediated sites on local fish populations and proposed DNA testing to determine the origins of the current fish residents. The government’s commitment to monitoring the sites for 25 years after the cleanup was reiterated by Burke, with regular updates on the progress available on Build Nova Scotia’s website.
As monitoring approaches the halfway mark, Burke remains optimistic about the ongoing positive trends at the former industrial sites.