Natural springs at this site were once used by the Tribe for cultural purposes, but years of accumulated mine waste destroyed them. The mine was active in the 1920s with low metal production and has been abandoned since the 1950s, leaving acid mine drainage from tailings piles and open adits. The mining operation created 150 feet of underground workings that have collapsed, and acid mine drainage from underground mining at the site flowed directly into Pyramid Lake, the center of the Tribe's existence. The lake supports endangered and threatened species that are still part of the Paiute people's diet and traditional heritage. A reclamation plan includes redirecting surface flows into created and existing wetlands at the site, adding soil amendments with lime and topsoil to minimize the effects of pH on biological life, using plant species that are salt and heavy metal tolerant for revegetation, and containing the tailings in the old railroad bed to reduce oxidation. Capping and revegetating are being done to reduce water contact with the active tailings. Pyramid Lake is a natural and cultural resource for the Pyramid Paiute people, who have depended on the lake for thousands of years for their existence and are working to improve the environment for generations to come.