Before and after satellite photos of the Mount Polley tailings pond spill show a destructive path down the length of Hazeltine Creek.

The tailings pond dam at the Mount Polley Mine site was breached on BC Day, Aug. 4. An estimated 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of fine sand was released. Hazeltine Creek, which was originally about 1.2 metres wide, grew to 150 metres wide. It is the grey stream flowing into Quesnel Lake.