July 04, 2012 - 6:21 PM
NELSON, B.C. - A local state of emergency has been declared in an area of southeast B.C. after a dam holding back mine tailings from an old lead-zinc mine began leaking.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay issued the declaration for the Nelson-Salmo area over concerns that part of the retaining wall for the old Hudson's Bay mine tailing pond have been washed away by heavy rains.
Bill MacPherson of the regional district's emergency operations centre says engineers are working on plans to shore up the dam.
He says the rain and melting snow have also pushed Kootenay Lake to it's highest level in 40 years, caused some limited flooding, threatened a bridge, and forced the evacuation of at least one home.
MacPherson says two sandbagging staging areas have been set up for Kootenay residents whose property may be threatened by flooding.
Meanwhile, the B.C. River Forecast Centre says flood warnings remain in effect for the Shuswap, South Thompson and Stuart Rivers, and while Shuswap Lake should drop below flood stage by next week, the Stuart River northwest of Prince George will continue to rise for up to three more weeks.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012