UPDATE: Pugwash River Leaking into Underground Cavern
This was an April Fool's Day prank.
A water specialist with the Department of Environment suggests the Pugwash River is shrinking, and too fast to be natural. The hydrologist fears the estuary (the area where the salt water tide meets the fresh water river flow) may be seeping into a salt cavern.
The specialist, who asked to remain anonymous because he is not a spokesman for the provincial department, says the river may have breached an old mine cavity. He said, “If it were a currently active mining area, officials of the salt company would already be aware.” He added, “Since no local alarm bells are going off, the breach is likely in an area that nobody would notice until it becomes obvious on the surface.”
The river level seems to be dropping at a consistent rate, suggesting the water is leaking through a thin area of rock and/or salt. However, the hydrologist says it is only a matter of time before the water breaks through and the river displays a precipitous drop.
Not only would the water disappear quickly into an ever expanding cavity, but the sudden break would take any surrounding debris with it. Depending on the precise location, that could take vegetation, trees, or even structures along for the ride.
While the river and the ocean tides will continue to feed water into the area of the breach, water levels would not be restored until the cavern is filled. The problem would be magnified if the breach opens into the salt mine.
The official says people would not likely be in danger because there would be plenty of warning as the water slowly dissolves through the underground salt deposits.
By blowing the whistle on this danger, the individual hopes senior Department of Environment officials will finally take his warnings seriously. He hopes investigators will be deployed to Pugwash today, as the big breach could happen at any time.
Nobody at the Pugwash Village Commission nor the Municipality of Cumberland were aware of any danger. In fact, County Warden Al Gillis, who lives in Pugwash, overlooking the harbour and the estuary, had not detected any change in water depth or tidal flow.
A formal statement is expected at noon today. Six Rivers Radio will interrupt regular programming to carry that news update. Click HERE to listen to SixRiversRadio.
UPDATE: No statement was made, as no situation exists. This has been a test of your 'funny bone' — an April Fool's prank. Hope you enjoy the day.