Acid mine drainage colorado Oct 18, 2023 · Acid mine drainage in the Colorado River Basin gained notoriety following the Gold King Mine Spill in 2015 in Cement Creek, a tributary to the Animas River, which flows into the San Juan River and the Colorado River. Aug 13, 2018 · Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from abandoned mine lands contaminates streams and rivers throughout the Colorado Mineral Belt. Much of this contamination has persisted for decades and is likely to continue given the impediments to cleanup that are present at most sites. The Colorado Geological Survey completed an inventory of environmental degradation associated with abandoned and inactive mines on National Forest System lands in Colorado. Approximately 18,000 abandoned mine-related features were Sep 25, 2019 · In Colorado and beyond, acid mine drainage has the potential to pollute vital waterways long after mineral extraction has ceased. In the course of the inventory, areas with naturally occurring acid rock drainage were also noted. Treatment of acid mine drainage is listed as one of the state's Top 10 winnable battles in gaining clean water. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment treats nearly 98 million gallons of water a year from 5 mining sites alone. The CGS completed an inventory of environmental degradation associated with abandoned and inactive mines on National Forest System lands in Colorado. One remediation strategy that is increasing in usage is the emplacement of hydraulic bulkheads to impound water within the subsurface.