Fish have started to populate the streams near the former tar ponds and coke ovens areas in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Officials view this as a promising development following the extensive cleanup of a century’s worth of industrial pollution from the steel and coal sectors in Cape Breton.

The $400 million remediation project was overseen by the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, which later merged into Nova Scotia Lands and now operates under Build Nova Scotia. This agency is responsible for overseeing water quality in the streams that flow through the former industrial sites.

Donnie Burke, a senior director at the agency, expressed satisfaction with the results of an assessment conducted by an independent engineering firm, indicating that the cleanup efforts are showing positive outcomes.

The coke ovens site was covered with slag rock remnants from the steel plant, while the tar ponds, once notorious as Canada’s most hazardous waste site, were enclosed in concrete.

Coke Ovens Brook, Wash Brook, and Muggah Creek underwent cleanup procedures, and the surrounding areas were landscaped to channel surface water into the streams. Groundwater from the coke ovens site is treated before being discharged back into the streams.

Both sites were eventually covered with topsoil and grass. The former tar ponds have been transformed into Open Hearth Park, featuring sports fields, playgrounds, walking paths, and green spaces. The coke ovens area now serves as an open field utilized for various activities like cricket, walking, and snowmobiling.

Monitoring of the water quality indicates that the cap on the tar ponds is effectively containing any toxins. Although the former coke ovens site might experience occasional spikes in heavy metals or industrial chemicals after heavy rainfall, the monitoring system promptly identifies these issues, and water treatment is adjusted accordingly.

Burke mentioned that there may be minor fluctuations in water quality but overall stability and improvement have been observed since the implementation of the cover.

Regular water testing is conducted in the streams and under the former coke ovens cap through strategically placed wells. Recent studies have shown a resurgence of fish species in the streams, with trout eggs and fry spotted in Coke Ovens Brook.

Dr. Katherine Jones, a biologist at Cape Breton University, highlighted improvements in the health of mummichog fish living in the former tar ponds area following the cleanup efforts. A recent pilot study confirmed the disappearance of previous health issues in these fish.

Ongoing monitoring of the sites for 25 years post-cleanup is committed by the government, with results being regularly published on Build Nova Scotia’s website. Burke emphasized that the monitoring progress is positive and moving in the right direction.