​​Mining has the potential to alter surface and subsurface water cycles for up to centuries. Rigorous impact assessment (IA) predictions and monitoring programs for impacts on groundwater are needed to inform decision-makers and the public, particularly in the face of climate change. 

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We consulted groundwater impact assessment predictions for 16 hardrock mines assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and found:

• Post-closure groundwater was only proposed for 38% of projects, with a maximum period of ten years (median monitoring duration = 5 years.

• Of the 6 mines (38%) that considered the potential effects of climate change on groundwater impact predictions, none provided quantitative analyses of these effects.

• Many documents presented accessibility barriers which may impair the participation of people living in remote and northern communities that lack robust internet access.

 

We make recommendations for improving the quality and transparency of groundwater impact predictions for mining projects in IA processes. The graphical abstract from our research paper is below, followed by other research products.