PUB00093

• Year: 2004
• Title: State of Colorado's Watersheds Report
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Colorado Watershed Assembly
• Description: An Annual Report
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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Background
In early 2003, High Country
Citizens' Alliance (HeCA) became
aware of a rcp0l1 prepared for the Forest
Service in 2002 describing the impact
the abandoned Standard Mine is having
on aquatic life in Elk and Coal Creeks.
above Crested Butte. The Standard
Mine is located at the headwaters of
Elk Creek, a tributary to Coal Creek,
flowing off the upper. south-facing
flanks of Mt. Emmons. The mine was
sporadically operated from the mid-
1880s until the mid-I 950s when it went
into full production to extract lead and.
to a lesser extent, zinc, copper, and
cadmium. Operations ceased in 1965
and the site was abandoned.
A preliminary site assessment was
conducted for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in 1999, triggering
the Forest Service report. The report
describes the site as containing
55,000 cubic yards of waste rock
eroding and discharging a suite of
heavy metals into the creek. The site
also contains 12 open addits, shafts.
and portals, making it a threat to public
health and safety. There are about
30 gallons per minute of tainted water
being discharged from these openings.
There is also a small tailings pond
on the site from a shol1-lived milling
operation.

Cleanup Efforts
In November of 2003, HCCA
convened a group of federal, state,
and local agencies. along with
Phelps Dodge, the current owners
of the inactive Keystone Mine on

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Coal Creek Woes to
Be Addressed

Mt. Emmons. to discuss the level of
interest in cleaning up this site. The
response was overwhelmingly positive
that the site needs to be reclaimed. The
different agencies shared infonnation
about what funding assistance is
available to address cleanup needs.
HCCA then organized a public
meeting in January 2004 to explain
the situation to the public. Although
high levels of cadmium and zinc in
Elk Creek and elevated levels of zinc
in Coal Creek arc a threat to aquatic
life. drinking water standards are not
being exceeded. (Coal Creek is the
source of Crested Butte's municipal
water supply.) \Ve recruited volunteers
from the public at that meeting to serve
on a watershed steering cOIllmittee and
water quality monitoring committee
to oversee the challenging task of
restoring the health of Coal Creek.

Funding
The Town of Crested Butte agreed
to sponsor a grant application to
develop a watershed management plan
and a water quality monitoring plan
as a next step. The application \vas
prepared and submitted with the help
of a few local volunteers. In March.
the Colorado Nonpoint Source Council
announced a favorable response to
our request for funding. The grant
funds are being supplemented \vith
contributions from the Town of Crested
Butte and Gunnison County and
future fundraising efforts. Two joint
organizing meetings of the Steering and
Monitoring Committees have been held.
The group has named itself the Coal
Creek Watershed Coalition. HCCA has
taken 011 the responsibility to facilitate
and coordinate for the Coalition.
\Ve expect to
have a \Vork
Plan approved
by September
so we can hire
a consultant
to assist in the
development of
a Management
Plan. The Plan is
a prerequisite for
additional grant
funding.
A Iso 1 n
March, the Colorado Water Quality
Control Commission added Coal Creek
to the biannual list of impaired waters.
This will help prioritize future grant
opportunities.

STandard iHine

We expect to have a
Work Plan approved
by September so
we can develop a
Management Plan,
a prerequisite for
additional grant
funding.