Gold mining can have a devastating effect on nearby water resources. Long term effects include acid mine drainage, which raises acid levels in rivers and lakes (harmful to wildlife and people). Some mines regularly dispose of toxic waste in rivers, lakes, and even oceans. Others store the soupy, semi-solid mine waste known as tailings in dammed up reservoirs, which can leak or burst. Cyanide used in leaching gold from ore can pollute water resources and kill fish and other life. (A rice-grain sized dose of cyanide can be fatal to humans; cyanide concentrations of 1 microgram (one-millionth of a gram) per liter of water can be fatal to fish.)
http://www.nodirtygold.org/poisoned_waters.cfm
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