At IAMGOLD, we are aware of the impact mining activities can have on our ecosystems. Last fall, we officially completed the rerouting of the Mollie River near our Côté Gold construction project.  

The rerouting was carried out to allow the construction of the Côté Gold mine, as the river and nearby lakes would have posed a flooding risk to the open pit, while preserving existing waterways and ecosystems, especially the local fish habitat.  

An integral part of our environmental permitting process, the rerouting project was conducted in consultation with our Indigenous partners and other stakeholders and in keeping with our Zero Harm® commitment – a philosophy that compels us to always maintain the most rigorous standards in health, safety, and sustainability. 

To make the rerouting possible, natural channel design principles were incorporated into the strategy to create self-sustaining systems that restore ecological functions.  

The realignment of the Mollie River was initiated through the construction phase of the Côté Gold mine. In the fall of 2023, Crossing #3, which connected the outlet of Chester Lake to Oshki Lake, was completed, and the Mollie River was officially rerouted around the mine site! 

And Oshki Lake was born! 

Back in 2021, we also worked closely with Mattagami First Nation and Flying Post First Nation to collaboratively rename the new lake that would be formed as a result of the river realignment. Through a consultative process, the name “Oshki Lake” was proposed, which means “new” or “young” in Ojibwe. In August of 2023, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry officially approved the proposed name, solidifying the collaboration between Côté Gold and our local communities.