Hecla Wins Honors For Reclamation Work

Hecla Mining Co. has won two of Idaho’s top reclamation awards for its work at the Grouse Creek gold mine near Challis.

Hecla won the Special Project Award for wetlands restoration for improving two areas near the mine. Hecla restored 30 acres of Vat Creek by restoring the groundwater table, which also enhanced 80 more acres of land near the creek.

In nearby Jordan Creek, the company restored the streambed that had been straightened by surface mining in the past. Hecla returned the stream to its original channel, revegetated the streambanks and improved the area as fish habitat. The project was one of the first of its kind, the company said.

Grouse Creek Environmental Manager, Dan Anderson, won Idaho’s Outstanding Company Environmental Coordinator. Anderson has been with the Grouse Creek project for the seven years of permitting and construction it took to bring the gold mine to production.

Grouse Creek is Hecla’s largest gold property.

, DataTimes