11/03/2026
Didn't know if you saw this , yikes
LAKE ERIE: Morton Salt Mine faces a major emergency 2,000 feet below Lake Erie.
The Morton Salt mine near Fairport Harbor (about 2,000 feet under Lake Erie) had a major water inflow discovered Oct 22. All workers evacuated safely with no injuries. Mining operations stopped indefinitely. Officials are investigating, but the source of the water has *NOT* been confirmed (groundwater or possible lake seepage).
A Force majeure was declared and 77 workers laid off putting the future of the mine in dire jeopardy. It is one of 12 rock salt sites in a ~30M-ton network. With this critical mine out of operation, regional road-salt supply faces disruption while the mine's future is assessed.
The Morton Salt mine is a massive operation near Fairport Harbor, Ohio. Upon the water intrusion, the mine was immediately evacuated, all miners escaped safely.
⚠️ Here’s what we know:
🔹 77 employees have been laid off.
🔹 Federal investigators are working to determine where the water is coming from.
🔹 It is NOT confirmed whether the water is entering directly from Lake Erie or through underground geological formations.
🔹 Water intrusion is especially dangerous in salt mines because freshwater dissolves salt, potentially weakening underground structures. Salt water intrusion into the lake could pose serious consequences.
🔹 The mine’s future is uncertain, with no reopening date announced.
🔹There has been no detected increase in the lake water salinity nearby. Monitoring continues.
The closure could also have implications for Ohio’s road salt supply heading into winter, although state officials say current supplies are adequate.
