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<br />',"'j' <br />,.:< <br /> <br />~;~ <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />. <br />~i' <br />:~,.~:I <br />;;Jj <br /> <br />61 <br /> <br />;~?t <br />:.;:-'J <br /> <br />f>,i <br />.t~:? <br /> <br />Argentine mining district. West Clear Creek contributes zinc, copper, and, <br /> <br />w <br />0, <br />o <br />Q <br /> <br />manganese in excess of both the basic standards for'aquatic life and <br /> <br />agricultural supply' standards. Manganese in the West Clear Creek is often <br /> <br />found at concentrations acutely toxic to rainbow trout. West Clear Creek. <br /> <br />contains only a minimal fishery. <br /> <br />Lion Creek a tributary of'West Clear Creek, is severely impacted by the ~mpire <br /> <br />mining district. Manganese, iron, copper, cadmium, zinc, and mercury exceed <br /> <br />basic standards for aquatic life. Low pH is also evident in Lion Creek <br /> <br />~.:,..; <br />;~ indicating the effects of acid mine drainage. Division of Wildlife studies <br /> <br />~~2\ <br />~:~~j <br /> <br />~;4 <br /> <br />,:-'. <br />2?i <br /> <br />:'~' i <br />.'", <br />~(~ <br /> <br />&~ <br /> <br />1~: <br /> <br />;::\ <br />.:-, -~ <br />\;>: <br /> <br />r <br />~1 <br /> <br />conclude that Lion Creek is devoid of fish. From the west edge of Idaho <br /> <br />Springs to the confluence with North Clear Creek, aquatic life values are <br /> <br />exceeded in the mainstem of Clear Creek by manganese, cadmium, copper, zinc, <br /> <br />mercury, lead, and iron. <br /> <br />The Fall River, a tributary of Clear Creek, receives metals ,loadings from <br /> <br />Silver Creek, one of its tributaries. Downstream of the Town of Alice, Silver <br /> <br />Creek is devoid of trout; upstream of mining activity near Alice a good brook <br /> <br />trout population exists. Mine tailings and spoils piles, located in Alice <br /> <br />appear to be the source of the ~roblem. <br /> <br />In Idaho Springs the Argo Tunnel, part of the Central City/Clear Creek CERCLA <br /> <br />site, is a significant source of metals loading to Clear Creek. Acid drainage <br /> <br />containing toxic concentrations of cadmium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, and <br /> <br />zinc flow from the' tunnel, across tailing piles and into Clear Creek. Above <br /> <br />-62- <br /> <br />., <br />