A Morton Salt mine deep beneath Lake Erie has been shut down after a sudden flood of water poured into the underground operation.
The mine, located in Painesville Township, Ohio, sits roughly 2,000 feet below the lakebed, separated from the water above by layers of rock and sediment. The facility has been active since 1992 and serves as a key source of road salt for winter weather preparations across the region.
Last week, the underground site experienced what officials are calling a “water intrusion” that flooded the operation without warning. The rush of water forced the immediate closure of the mine and has already disrupted scheduled salt deliveries set to begin Monday, according to cleveland.com.
At least 77 mine workers were laid off Wednesday as a result of the shutdown, FOX 8 reported. Federal mine inspectors have launched an investigation into what caused the breach, officials said.
Nobody was injured during the flooding event, officials have confirmed. The company, widely recognized by its iconic yellow “girl with umbrella” logo, has not indicated when or if the Painesville facility might resume operations.
The timing of the closure carries significant weight for regional winter preparedness. Road salt deliveries from the mine will not arrive as planned, leaving municipalities to secure alternative supplies before snow and ice hit the area.
The mine’s depth and location beneath one of the Great Lakes make any water intrusion particularly alarming. At 2,000 feet below Lake Erie, workers operate in a challenging environment where the pressure of the water above creates constant engineering demands.
Federal investigators are now working to determine how the protective rock and sediment barrier failed to hold back the lake water. The cause of the breach remains unknown, and officials have not provided a timeline for the inspection’s completion.
Whether the mine will ever reopen remains uncertain.