Mine spill in the San Juans

[Jim]

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20 ... /150809765

Silverton, Durango, and areas down stream on the Animas are affected.

[big_load]

“Because of the discoloration, we don’t want people in the river,” said Butch Knowlton, the county’s director of Emergency Preparedness. “It’s really, really ugly. Any kind of recreational activity on the river needs to be suspended.”

I would be less worried about the color than the potential toxicity. At least it's not that bright red mercury effluent.

[chumley]

I'm sure there's a lot to be learned as yet, but initial reports are that the spill was actually caused by the EPA. Doh.

[outdoor_lover]

Glad I'll be Upstream....Sheesh!

[Alston_Neal]

Here is a GE shot from the end of June last year. Do you think this was a toxic nightmare waiting to happen?
Serious oozing here.

[big_load]

Unfortunately, the beautiful high elevations of CO are filled with abandoned mines oozing scary colors. I'm pretty careful about knowing what's upstream when I take water in that part of the world. I'd rather pump water from a cow pasture than a mine.

[BEEBEE]

With the EPA causing the release. This scene from Ghost busters comes to mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-tYZkJ2p54

[rwstorm]

Always fun to blame the government. But things aren't quite that simple.

http://www.hcn.org/articles/when-our-ri ... e=facebook

[JimmyLyding]

Always fun to blame the government. But things aren't quite that simple.

Exactly. Who left the toxic waste there for the government (i.e. taxpayers) to deal with? Why have we allowed a few to profit from our natural resources only to leave the nasty stuff for someone else to deal with?

This is what we get when our nation's primary mining law was written in 1872 as a means of encouraging people to become miners and settle the west. We get what we deserve because we ultimately choose those who make the decisions.

Political rant over. Sorry. It's Monday.

[mazatzal]

Nailed it.

[chumley]

@mazatzal
Not quite. It's Tuesday. ;)

[ALMAL]

that sucks, I've caught some really nice trout in the Animas...

[Espi]

This is from Terry Gunn up at Lee's Ferry Anglers.. thought some of you may be interested in this.

"We are getting lots of calls about the mine spill into the Animas River and now that the slug of water is approaching Lake Powell, how it might affect Lees Ferry.
This is a tragic spill but I do not believe that it will have any near term or long tern negative affect on the ecosystem of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. This spill though large, will be diluted some before it enters Lake Powell and will be greatly diluted as it enters the Lake and then will settle out into the upper reach of the San Juan arm of Lake Powell.
To get the real scoop on what is happening on the spot, I contacted Durangers fly shop and guide service in Durango. Here is what they had to say this morning:
Hi Terry. The short version is we are not seeing any die off of fish or bugs. Details: CPW put 108 fingerlings in live cages at 3 sites through the town reach before the plume hit. One fish died almost immediately. As of Sunday evening the report is all of the sentinel fish are alive. Bugs were collected Sunday morning by an aquatic biologist with Mountain Studies Institute and found a robust collection of mayfly nymphs, black fly and midge larva, brachycentris (caddis) and other aquatic life. A friend of mine observed a dozen or so fish feeding on Sunday afternoon. Further the Ph was quickly back to our usual of mid to high 7's from about 6.0 in the town reach.
The River is still closed to recreation as we are awaiting test results as to health considerations.
Let me know if you need additional info.
Buck Skillen.
Duranglers Flies & Supplies "

[JasonCleghorn]

that sucks, I've caught some really nice trout in the Animas...

Now you may be able to catch some with three heads!

[Tough_Boots]

interesting article to combat all the EPA blaming that's going around:

http://www.counterpunc...