Wild Rice, Wetlands, and Hidden Eels

Digging Into the Greenery at the Revell Site

If you live in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, or Dyment, you know that our backyard isn’t just empty space—it is a living, breathing landscape. Whether you are picking berries, hunting, or just enjoying the view of the lakes, the land defines our lifestyle in Northwestern Ontario. Recently, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) released data about the plants, wetlands, and water life at the proposed Revell Site for the Deep Geological Repository. We took a close look at Section 14.7 of their report to see what they found in our woods and waters.

What We Are Learning

The NWMO has been conducting baseline studies to understand what currently lives on the land before any construction begins. In 2022, they used a mix of “desk-based” research (looking at existing maps) and field studies, including a high-tech method called environmental DNA (eDNA), which tests water samples for genetic traces of fish and wildlife.

Here is a snapshot of what they found:

• The Landscape: The site is mostly upland conifer forest (77%), but about 17% is wetland, specifically swamps and fens.
• Local Harvests: They identified stands of wild rice, including on the north shore of Mennin Lake, and medicinal plants like balsam fir and balsam poplar.
• The Mystery Guest: The eDNA testing picked up traces of the American Eel, a species listed as Endangered in Ontario. This was unexpected, as they aren’t usually found in this specific area.

The Reality Check

While it is good to see data coming in, we need to compare what is being promised against what we actually need to verify for our safety.

• The Claim: The NWMO suggests that while more work is needed, the current data is sufficient to start forming “early conclusions” about risks.
• The Evidence: One year of data—mostly from 2022—is rarely enough to understand the complex cycles of nature in the north. Seasons change, and wildlife patterns shift. Making decisions based on a single year could miss the bigger picture.
• The Claim: The report notes that wetland loss isn’t “critical” in Northern Ontario because we have so many wetlands regionally.
• The Evidence: This is a regional generalization that ignores local reality. For the creatures living in the Revell Site wetlands, those specific swamps are their whole world. Losing 17% of the site’s wetlands matters to the local ecosystem, regardless of what the rest of the province looks like.

The Path Forward

We have identified a few gaps in the current Impact Assessment that need to be addressed to ensure our community is protected.

The Gap: The detection of the endangered American Eel is currently just a “potential” finding based on water samples (eDNA). There has been no physical confirmation.
The Solution: We are calling for targeted physical surveys—using nets or traps—to confirm if these eels are actually swimming in our local watercourses. If an endangered species is present, it triggers strict federal protections that could significantly change how, or if, the project can proceed.

The Gap: The report identifies wild rice and medicinal plants but relies heavily on desk studies rather than deep local knowledge.
The Solution: The proponent needs to move beyond maps and walk the land with local Indigenous rights holders and residents. We need a formal study to understand exactly how these plants are used and to ensure that changes in water levels or chemistry don’t destroy these harvest grounds.

Why It Matters Here

This isn’t just about biology; it’s about our way of life. If the Revell Site disrupts the water flow into Mennin Lake, it could impact the wild rice harvest. If the wetlands are drained or altered, it changes the habitat for the moose and beaver that locals hunt and trap. And if there are endangered species in those waters, we have a legal and moral obligation to know for sure before any heavy machinery breaks ground. We cannot afford to rely on “early conclusions” when the stakes are this high.

Have Your Say

This affects our future. Submit your feedback on this specific issue via our Engage page to ensure the Impact Assessment Agency hears from our community.

About the Author

Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project

Author

Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment (MINIA) is a community-led research and analysis initiative focused on understanding the full social, cultural, environmental, and economic implications of nuclear-related projects in Northwestern Ontario. Grounded in local knowledge and lived experience, the project brings together researchers, artists, youth, Elders, and community partners to examine how large-scale infrastructure—such as the proposed Deep Geological Repository—intersects with everyday life, land-based relationships, and long-term regional sustainability.

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