Modern mining companies actively reclaim disturbed lands during mining and after closure. The cost of reclamation is built into the mining cost. Abandoned and orphaned mined lands require funding from other sources. Sometimes a mining company will reclaim abandoned sites that are adjacent to their operating mines. See the Summit documents for more information on these issues.
Hundreds of stories of reclamation successes can be found that demonstrate the good that can be accomplished with enough funding, resources, and motivation. The links cover reclamation done by active mining companies as well as projects that have been completed by organizations such as Trout Unlimited.
Trout Unlimited - some Western sites Trout Unlimited has worked on. See A Collaborative Approach to Mine Reclamation slides from the conference.
- American Fork Creek – Pacific Mine in Utah. The project received awards and now supports trout fishing.
- Morris Creek in ID. 14,000 tons of mine tailings were cleaned. Kids planted trees. This site is now a migratory fisheries site.
- At the Kebler Creek site in Colorado, TU worked with the EPA and State to restore 80 acres of tailings along with 340 structures in 6 miles of creek. The stream now has wild fish living in the creek.
- Leavenworth Creek near Georgetown Colorado, 54,000 yards of tailings were removed from 2,500 feet of channel and flood plain to improve water quality.
- Clear Fork Creek in MT plus 6 other projects. Fish will respond to change in the streams. They are resilient.
- In Pennsylvania, TU has been involved in passive treatment of streams in several areas, including Bob Creek. TU worked with NGOs to restore and reclaim 160 acres. Now the stream is naturally reproducing brook trout. More could be done with Good Sam.
Mine Reclamation stories from the Minerals Education Coalition.
Mine Reclamation Images - Images of land after it has been mined.
Flambeau Mine. The Flambeau Mine, located along the shores of the Flambeau River near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, operated from 1993 to 1997 and was reclaimed by 1999. As the first mine to earn permits and operate under Wisconsin’s stringent modern mining laws, the Flambeau Mine met the highest mining, exploration and reclamation standards.
Hydroponic farm plans to grow on reclaimed mine site in eastern Kentucky.
Ideas about what to do with mined lands:
- 102 things to do with a hole in the ground
- The Eden Project in Cornwall built in a clay pit.
- Post-Mining Alliance slides promoting regeneration of mine sites.
- Background Paper on restoration of legacy sites - IUCN-ICMM
