ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

from High Country Angler | Spring 2021

FOR THE BIRDS

If there’s one niche role in the arena of coldwater conservation that Trout Unlimited has stepped up to fill better than any other organization, it’s that of abandoned mine reclamation. And if there’s one state where the reclamation of those abandoned mine lands have the potential to dramatically improve the health of a state’s watersheds, it’s Colorado.

The alpine wonderland that is the town of Alma (every real Colorado angler has slapped an “Al-Mart” sticker on their cooler, right?) will soon be the latest beneficiary of the dedication and depth of expertise that Trout Unlimited staff, members and partners bring to a conservation project. Through the Mineral Park Ponds project just upriver of town, and with Tanner Banks (National TU Abandoned Mine Land Project Manager) running point, TU and its affiliates aim to significantly decrease the threat of hazardous materials from a legacy mine site - thereby preserving water quality in the Middle Fork of the South Platte River with its Gold-Medal fishery downstream.

The project will address the tailings impoundments and site topography that currently traps surface water in six tailing ponds. The area will then be regraded to mimic the surrounding topography and the tailings materials amended with reactive Magnesium Oxide to immobilize heavy metals (predominantly lead), and deter those metals from migrating into the stream. Thanks to a generous matching contribution from Anglers All which in turn helped leverage other individual donations during Colorado Gives Day, the team is anticipating completion of this project as early as August of this year.

Here at Colorado Trout Unlimited, we tend to rave about the horsepower behind what we refer to as “One TU” - when the organization collaborates from the chapter level on up to the national level, roping in specialists, scientists, business partners and collaborators along the way. Looking back on 2020 and our recordbreaking Colorado Gives Day, we learned that, in the face of great hardship, we are truly stronger together. We are deeply grateful to the many supporters – including Freestone Aquatics with their generous challenge grant – whose support drove that success.

The future of abandoned mine reclamation in Colorado will require the enlistment of this same kind of collaborative horsepower. With the prospect of passing Good Samaritan legislation (tu.org/goodsam) in the near future (fingers crossed), the handcuffs of wellintentioned but archaic legislation would be removed and an army of volunteers, aquatic biologists and philanthropic capital would be unleashed on some of the most pernicious abandoned mine sites in the country. Together we will take this critical next step toward healthier Colorado watersheds. And when the time comes to make your voice heard, to help us pass Good Sam once and for all, we know you’ll be there beside us. For that we thank you!