2015-02-09_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1985029

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REcrr, "'r, Alma Placer Mine Spill FEB 09 2015 Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Action Outline DIVISION OF RECLAMATION MINING AND SAFETY On the late morning of October 3rd, 2014 CPW staff was notified of the Alma Placer Mine spill. Shortly after being notified, DWM (District Wildlife Officer) Dawson Swanson was on site at the Middle Fork of the South Platte River (MFSPR) between Alma and Fairplay. Shortly thereafter, DWM Swanson was joined by DWM Mark Lamb and Aquatic Biologist Jeff Spohn. The three CPW employees investigated for a fish kill, walking different parts of the Middle Fork between the Fairplay Beach and the Alma Placer Mine. No dead or stressed fish were observed. • DWM Lamb returned on October 4th, 2014 to the Fairplay Beach. Mark did not observe any dead or stressed fish. Mark did observe "rising" fish indicating fish were healthy enough to be feeding. • CPW did not receive any reports of dead or stressed fish from the October 3rd discharge event. • Prior to the discharge event, there were potentially up to 851 RFID (radio frequency identification) tagged fish in the MFSP and South Platte River (SPR) downstream of the mine discharge point. RFID antennas did not pick up additional movement, especially downstream movement (indicating a flight response) because of the discharge event. • After the discharge event, between 10/7/2014 and 10/31/2014, CPW staff RFID tagged an additional 536 fish between the town of Garo and the handicap fishing access on the Badger Basin State Wildlife Area (SWA). The health, condition, and overall appearance of these fish appeared appropriate for that time of year. • Water quality samples were taken at three locations during the discharge event. The first sample was taken from the MFSPR immediately above the Fariplay Beach. The second sample was taken from the MFSPR approximately .4 of a mile upstream of the mine. The third sample was taken directly from the mine's sediment pond that discharged the sediment (according to mine employees). The water samples were analyzed by RiverWatch in Fort Collins, CO. These results were provided to Kelly Morgan of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for interpretation. • Aquatic invertebrates were sampled at three locations in the MFSPR on 11 /10/2014. The first location is located above the mine, in close proximity to were the water quality samples were taken during the event. The second location is located .08 of a mile upstream of Park County Road 14. The third location is located near where the power lines cross the MFSPR on the Tomahawk SWA. These samples have not been analyzed nor interpreted.