Faith Johnstone says that at least one local resident near the launch of the Nesta boat in the Westfort neighborhood of Thunder Bay has reported “thousands” sightings of dead fish that float along the Kaministiquia river.
Johnstone, an environmental monitor for Fort William First Nation, says that the resident observed the mysterious scene in the three -hour period of a day earlier this week.
It has been a common sighting last week for regular dock users and adjacent paths, along with strange odors and a copper dye in the water. Johnstone is part of a Fort William environmental team collecting water samples on the dock on Thursday, to try any chemical spill.
“We take temperature measurements, pH, turbidity, conductivity and then dissolved oxygen to see what these parameters are,” said Johnstone.
A broadly circulated social networks publication of Jamie Zaroski attributed the strange occurrences to a discharge pipe attached to a local factory.
In a statement to the CBC, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) of Ontario said that its spill action center received a report from the provincial ministry of natural resources on August 23 on “a discolored column and a strong smell near the location of discharge of effluents pulp and paper million of Thunder Bay”.
Zaroski, who has lived along the Kaministiquia river since 1979, says he noticed for the first time the decoloration in the water near the discharge location while fishing on Saturday afternoon. He adds that, after several calls, he could finally reach the MECP on Monday, and was addressed to a local service officer.
“I asked who the work is to notify the public, and she said that it is not ours, it depends on local officials,” he said, added that he later began making calls to the local members of Parliament and the mayor of Thunder Bay.
On Tuesday, the Environmental Ministry reported that the discharge of wastewater from effluents or treated, “overcoming” of the mill that flows to the river, which was confirmed by water samples taken on August 20 and 25.
“It’s not normal water”
Clayton Keith says that he has lived in Westfort since 1981, and is regularly reduced to the launch of Ninte Boat at least three or four times a week. The former avid fisherman says he is “heartbreaking” to see the amount of dead fish he has seen in the river during the past week.
“I love fish, Pickerels are one of my favorites,” he said. “When I see these dead and that, when we see this, what else is dying? How long will the chain supply last if everyone is being poisoned?”
Keith says that many of the fish deaths he has observed have been pickerel fry, although he also noticed a little dead lucio floating near the river.
“When you see seagulls they don’t play [the dead fish]That must tell you that something is not right. “
The effluent is the discharge of wastewater treated, particularly that with a low pH, it can be harmful to fish. For the effluent of the pulp factory in particular, it can be a combination of wastewater wear of disagreement and unloading of pulp and whitish washing processes, and cooking chemicals, according to the environment and climate change of Canada (ECCC)
Nathalie Horton is another place that regularly uses the roads around the launch of the Neste boat to walk with her Maltese dog, Bear. She recently says that she has noticed a layer of film on the top of the water.
When you see the seagulls who do not touch [the dead fish]You must tell you that something is not right– Clayton Keith
“It’s not normal water, it shows simply looking at her,” Horton said. “It’s almost like oil or something.”
Despite confirming a great presence of effluents within the water on Tuesday, on Thursday there had been no public notice of the provincial environmental ministry, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, or the Health Unit of the district of Thunder Bay with respect to the spill or security precautions that the public should take.
Taking the matter in their own hands
For Thursday at noon, Fort William First Nation, Michele Solomon, had not received any correspondence of the pulp and the role of the mecp or Thunder Bay with respect to the levels of effluents higher than the average. Rather, the only warning he had received was from the original Facebook publication of Zaroski, which was shared with her last night.
“It is really alarming that if a spill was reported, which I understand that it has been informed, that Fort William First Nation should have been immediately notified,” Solomon said.
The Kaministiquia river begins in Dog Lake, which flows south through Kakabaka Falls and through the traditional territory of Fort William First Nation, before feeding the upper lake.
“All these river routes lead back to Fort William First Nation, so it is of great concern for us when there are potentially dangerous materials that are allowed to leave in this river route that could affect the health of the fish, the health of our people or the health of any species,” said Fort William Fick Nation. “So, you know, we must be informed when this kind of thing occurs so that we know that quick measures are being taken.”
Solomon says that the first nation will expect formal and verified information about the spill before pursuing any form of legal action.
“We are doing some independent water tests because, you know, when they do not inform you immediately, so, of course, you need to take measurements in your own hands,” said Solomon. “So our team at Fort William First Nation is Boots on the Ground here today.”
In 2021, the Ministry of the Environment reported that the mill was owned by forest products resolved at that time, had discharged contaminant levels above the average in the river through its effluent. The given cause was an unexpected closure of the factory, which caused problems with its effluent treatment system.
The mill resumed operations four days after the ministry was notified, once the treatment system began to stabilize. The mill was acquired by Atlas Holdings in 2023.
“I know there is a story of things that leaches themselves in the Kam,” said Johnstone, a member of Fort William First Nation.
The MECP says they continue to investigate the effluent spill.
Suspensions, stops and solutions
In a statement to the CBC, the Health Unit of the district of Thunder Bay (TBDHO) said that “they are not directly involved in the response to the effluent spill in the Kaministiquia River, since there is no identified risk for municipal supplies of drinking water or public beaches.”
The TBDHU also recommends that public members do not eat fish trapped in the river until more information about the MECP escape and the MECP and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources are provided.
In a statement sent by email to the CBC, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper assumed responsibility for the escape of effluents, citing a problem with its effluent process. The company said it has suspended operations while investigating the cause of the problem and is working with MECP with respect to the mortality of the aquatic life downstream.
Superior tomorrowLiam Baker: Kaministiquia river spill
Thunder Bay residents report discoloration, dead fish and unusual smell smelling in the Kaministiquia river, or Kam. Liam Baker of the CBC went down to the riverbank to learn more.
When confirming the overcoming of the effluents within the Kaministiquia River, the Ministry says that it issued a notice of violation of the pulp and the role of Thunder Bay, ordering them to stop downloading effluents until the levels return to normal. The notice also requires that the factory perform an analysis of the causes of the problems and identify the preventive measures against leaks of future effluents.
