Following the drastic on-site water volume increase due to the spring melt, site conditions have seen a welcome drop in water volume and, therefore, cyanide-affected water.
Current projections are that, assuming the water treatment plant performs well, the inventory of cyanide-affected water on the site may be significantly reduced over this summer and fall.
However, NND cautions that significant improvement is still required in the water treatment plan, particularly when it comes to reliability and reduction of system downtime. If the projected year-over-year reduction in the cyanide water inventory stored on the site can be achieved, critical improvements and repairs to several leaking cyanide storage ponds should be a priority for VGC and Yukon to deliver.
Water quality monitoring has now begun for the 2026 season, and water quality objectives are now being met, with the exception of nitrites at monitoring station W99.
The fish protection, fish monitoring, and aquatic life monitoring plans are well underway. NND will share these plans as soon as they become available.
Read the full update below.