Can a river recover from a toxic flood of 3 million gallons of wastewater?
In 2015, the Gold King Mine spill turned Colorado’s Animas River bright gold with arsenic and lead, devastating tourism, rafting, and farming in Durango. Yet, through resilience and restoration, the Animas has bounced back, now fueling $280 million annually for La Plata County.
Today, it draws adventurers to fish, paddle, hike, and ride the scenic Durango and Silverton Railroad along its banks. This inspiring recovery highlights the fragility and strength of our rivers, urging action to protect them from thousands of abandoned mines still threatening waterways across the American West.
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The Animas River was disastrously impacted by the Gold King Mine spill in 2015, when 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater flooded the river with metals. The community of Durango Colorado suffered losses in tourism, rafting, and farming due to the toxic plume. This event highlights the legacy of abandoned mines and the need for environmental science.
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