the upper Slate River watershed
upper Slate river
The Slate River runs through Crested Butte Colorado and drains approximately 34 square miles on the east side of the Ruby Mountain Range. There are about 71 miles of streams and rivers in the Watershed.
In 2011, the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC) recruited local stakeholders to begin the watershed planning process in the Upper Slate River Watershed (Watershed).
The Gunsight Processing Area, located near Crested Butte, CO, was identified as a priority project during the watershed planning process in the Upper Slate River Watershed. Mine waste found at the Gunsight Processing Area poses a human health risk due to recreation on site. The site had also been identified as a potential source of heavy metal contamination to the Slate River.
After meeting with stakeholders and securing grant funding, CCWC staff collected water quality samples and mapped the extents of mine waste and seeps on the site.
Due largely in part to the work of the Coalition, in 2017 CCWC, DRMS, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) secured over $350,000 to reclaim the Gunsight Processing Area near Crested Butte. Reclamation on site eliminated acidic and metalsladen seeps. The project removes approximately 260 pounds of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc per year. Post-project vegetation monitoring and weed removal is on-going.
The CCWC hopes to execute more water quality improvement projects in the Upper Slate River Watershed in upcoming years, including reclamation of the Daisy Mine site.
In 2011, the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC) recruited local stakeholders to begin the watershed planning process in the Upper Slate River Watershed (Watershed).
The Gunsight Processing Area, located near Crested Butte, CO, was identified as a priority project during the watershed planning process in the Upper Slate River Watershed. Mine waste found at the Gunsight Processing Area poses a human health risk due to recreation on site. The site had also been identified as a potential source of heavy metal contamination to the Slate River.
After meeting with stakeholders and securing grant funding, CCWC staff collected water quality samples and mapped the extents of mine waste and seeps on the site.
Due largely in part to the work of the Coalition, in 2017 CCWC, DRMS, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) secured over $350,000 to reclaim the Gunsight Processing Area near Crested Butte. Reclamation on site eliminated acidic and metalsladen seeps. The project removes approximately 260 pounds of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc per year. Post-project vegetation monitoring and weed removal is on-going.
The CCWC hopes to execute more water quality improvement projects in the Upper Slate River Watershed in upcoming years, including reclamation of the Daisy Mine site.
