THE DIRT: Restoration work at historic Pine Creek mine sites

Abandoned mines and millsites throughout the Silver Valley are cherished by locals and visitors alike for their historic significance. These sites offer a glimpse into what daily life looked like for the hard-working men and women who ran these operations and developed the mining industry that shaped our local communities. As mentioned in part one of this series, the mines of Pine Creek, with their relatively short life spans, did not produce record-breaking amounts of ore, but they still have a vibrant and storied past that is full of interesting local history.

The Douglas Mine and Millsite is one of the more publicly visible sites within the Pine Creek District. It is located 6.4 miles south of Pinehurst, on the East Fork of Pine Creek, just north of the mouth of Douglas Creek. Ore was first discovered at the site in 1898, and by 1913, the Douglas Mining Company had patented ten claims comprising 144 acres. The Douglas Mine grappled with the same challenges that other Pine Creek mines faced with their zinc rich ore, which proved difficult to separate from the lead minerals. In 1924, the Douglas site fell victim to a devastating forest fire that destroyed surface operations, including cabins, supplies, and mining equipment. Though the company rebuilt within a year, in 1928, a forest fire once again leveled the mine’s surface workings. Not knowing that the Great Depression loomed, the mine rebuilt yet again, this time with a new hoist house, compressor building, timber shed, blacksmith shop, store, and several dwellings. As the Depression set in, metal prices dropped, causing the mine to cease operations in 1930. In 1943, mining commenced again when the company leased operations to the Small Leasing Company who built a new 100-ton flotation mill at the mine. Production surged during the Korean War but steadily declined afterward until the mine’s official closure in 1972.

While the Douglas Mine and mill site has sat vacant of its grand timbered buildings for decades, it still housed dangerous remnants of its past. Historic mining operations contaminated soils across the site with hazardous levels of metals, including lead, arsenic, and zinc, creating human health and environmental hazards. Vegetation struggled to grow in these contaminated materials, leaving a flat, open expanse that became popular for activities such as dirt biking, ATV riding, camping, and target shooting. These activities put people into direct contact with contaminated materials, creating human health and environmental hazards. As cleanup measures associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site wind down in residential areas, the Coeur d’Alene Trust is now addressing these kinds of mine and mill sites located in the more remote areas of the Silver Valley.

Sampling and the development of a site cleanup plan for the Douglas began in 2019. Cleanup activities kicked off in the spring of 2025 and wrapped up this fall. Approximately 26,000 cubic yards of mine waste were excavated from around the area and consolidated on site. This waste was then covered with a 14,700 square yard liner system, which was capped with three feet of clean cover materials. In addition, crews constructed 1,800 linear feet of storm water channel, installed two 24” culverts to convey storm water from the site, and built an adit conveyance system to capture seasonal flows from the adit. In total, approximately 14,100 cubic yards of clean backfill were installed across the site, and access controls were placed around the perimeter to protect the final remedy. Cleanup activities help transform sites so they no longer pose risks to human health or the environment. This work represents meaningful progress for the Silver Valley, and our community can proudly recognize the efforts being made to improve human health and the environment, which makes it a safer place for all to enjoy.

The Dirt is a series of informative articles focused on all aspects of cleanup efforts associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Our goal is to promote community awareness of contamination issues, to provide tools for protecting public health, and to keep the community informed of current and future cleanup projects. The Dirt is a group of committed and local experts from multiple agencies, including the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Panhandle Health District, Shoshone County, Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.