The Captains Flat mining operations commenced in 1882 and continued periodically until 1962. According to Norris, the workings were underground with surface ore processing, smelting and waste storage facilities producing zinc, pyrite, lead, copper, silver and gold. During mining, mine and mill water containing zinc was regularly discharged into the Molonglo River. There were three incidents when tailings and slim dams collapsed, dumping high concentrations of copper, iron and zinc into the flooded Molonglo River. This led to the devastation of vegetation along the Molonglo River (Hogg, 1990). Aquatic fauna and flora have been ruined as a result of continued acid mine drainage (AMD) pollution along the Molonglo River between Captains Flat and
