Climate impacts on surface water availability in the Mount Milligan mine area, British Columbia

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The Mount Milligan mine of Centerra Gold Inc. contributes significantly to the economy of British Columbia and the minerals produced at the mine provide essential raw materials for a range of products used by society. For its operations, the mine depends on the availability of surface and ground water in the Nation River Basin for a range of activities including the processing of minerals and storing waste rock in tailings ponds. Recently the water levels became dangerously low in its tailings storage due to decreasing water availability that put the mine operations at risk of being shut down. For the mine to continue its operations, it is imperative to understand the implications of climate change on the availability of water now, and into the future. This project will quantify long term hydrological risks for the Mount Milligan Mine and will provide valuable information to mine managers that will enable them to develop plans related to mine operations in the face of declining water supplies. The project outcomes will help designing water management solutions for the mine given future prospects of hydrological changes at the mine site. Knowledge on changing water budgets will facilitate the mine's decision-making such as exploring potential future water sources including nearby streams or lakes and will hopefully prevent future interruptions of its day-to-day operations along with potential loss of employment if the mine was to shut down. Improving mine water management and understanding the key challenges with future water supplies is crucial for its long term sustainability and ongoing contribution to the economy.