Arkansas River Mine Tailing Remediation (Colorado)

Historic uncontrolled releases of mine tailings and contaminated water into the Arkansas River downstream of Leadville, Colorado, resulted in hundreds of acres of barren or metal-impacted soils within the floodplain and in adjacent irrigated pastures. EPA required an implementable, low-cost fix that immobilized floodplain metals, stabilized erosive streambanks and allowed for recovery of the fishery and improvement in water quality. KC Harvey was hired as experts in soil remediation and floodplain revegetation. We tilled soil amendments including lime and compost into the soil to decrease acidity and reduce metal mobility, followed by seeding with native grasses. We used streambank bioengineering techniques to revegetate unstable banks using transplanted willows and riparian vegetation from the floodplain. Floodplain revegetation was successful, and water quality has improved. In 2014, the Upper Arkansas was designated as a Gold Medal Trout Water. Leadville residents, previously skeptical of EPA and Superfund have been impressed with the effectiveness of the work.

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