Water Quality Impacts: Abandoned/Inactive Mine Lands
Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, & Gunnison Counties, Colorado
Water chemistry and water quality impacts to streams, lakes, and wetland ecosystems are primary components of the more than 25 abandoned/inactive mine assessments Western Water & Land has performed throughout western Colorado and eastern Utah. Much of our work in Colorado has focused on mine sites within Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, and Gunnison Counties. Our investigations have resulted in the development of an extensive database of water chemistry results for mine discharges and stream basins, throughout the San Juan Mountains. Our combined expertise in the geologic and hydrologic sciences allows us to design and implement sampling and analysis programs focusing on the specific contaminants and chemical parameters of potential concern resulting from former operations at mine and mill sites.
The water chemistry elements of the projects typically involve the collection of water samples from adit discharges; seepage from waste rock dumps and tailings deposits; settling basins or other onsite impoundments; and receiving streams, lakes, and wetland areas. In addition, waste rock and tailings samples are commonly collected for Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure analysis to evaluate constituent concentrations in leachate derived from the waste rock and tailings. Sampling is accomplished using industry-accepted procedures and protocols established by Western Water & Land to ensure collection of high-quality, defensible data. All data received from the analytical laboratory is reviewed and validated for completeness and accuracy in accordance with strict quality assurance protocols and uploaded to chemical databases developed and maintained by Western Water & Land. The resulting data are used to complete the data interpretations and water quality assessments needed to evaluate potential impacts to water resources downstream of the site.
Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, & Gunnison Counties, Colorado
Water chemistry and water quality impacts to streams, lakes, and wetland ecosystems are primary components of the more than 25 abandoned/inactive mine assessments Western Water & Land has performed throughout western Colorado and eastern Utah. Much of our work in Colorado has focused on mine sites within Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, and Gunnison Counties. Our investigations have resulted in the development of an extensive database of water chemistry results for mine discharges and stream basins, throughout the San Juan Mountains. Our combined expertise in the geologic and hydrologic sciences allows us to design and implement sampling and analysis programs focusing on the specific contaminants and chemical parameters of potential concern resulting from former operations at mine and mill sites.
The water chemistry elements of the projects typically involve the collection of water samples from adit discharges; seepage from waste rock dumps and tailings deposits; settling basins or other onsite impoundments; and receiving streams, lakes, and wetland areas. In addition, waste rock and tailings samples are commonly collected for Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure analysis to evaluate constituent concentrations in leachate derived from the waste rock and tailings. Sampling is accomplished using industry-accepted procedures and protocols established by Western Water & Land to ensure collection of high-quality, defensible data. All data received from the analytical laboratory is reviewed and validated for completeness and accuracy in accordance with strict quality assurance protocols and uploaded to chemical databases developed and maintained by Western Water & Land. The resulting data are used to complete the data interpretations and water quality assessments needed to evaluate potential impacts to water resources downstream of the site.