Leadville, Colorado, has played a major role in Colorado’s economy, popularity, and ‘Wild West’ persona for over 150 years. Gold was discovered in California Gulch in 1860, and the ensuing gold rush brought 10,000 people to Leadville. 1877 was the height of the silver boom, and Leadville’s population soared to around 30,000. Jump ahead a century, and a blowout of the Yak Tunnel, a mine drainage tunnel in California Gulch, is purported to have turned the Arkansas River orange from Leadville to Pueblo Reservoir.
On this trip, attendees will visit a ‘world-class ore body’ now known as the California Gulch Superfund Site, have the opportunity to visit the National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame (known as the “Smithsonian of the Rockies”), visit the historic Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and visit several reclamation and restoration areas in the upper Arkansas River basin from Leadville to Salida. Attendees will depart Denver for this multi-day field trip and travel on buses to sites in the upper Arkansas River basin. Attendees will see sites in and around Leadville on Day 1 and sites in and around Salida on Day 2.
Recommended for the trip: Dress in layers. Long-pants, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy closed-toed shoes, broad-brimmed hat, gloves, jackets, rain gear, sunscreen, and drinking water. Weather can vary since this is a field trip is at high elevations (7000- 10,200 feet) in early fall.
Meals & Refreshments: Bagged lunch will be provided on both days two. Attendees are responsible for all other meals.
Detailed description
The California Gulch Superfund Site (the “Site”) encompasses more than 15 square miles, including the town of Leadville, Colorado, and surrounding areas where historic mining activities took place. The Site contains more than 2,000 mine waste piles, as well as the Yak Tunnel which discharges drainage from numerous underground mines into California Gulch. Heavy metals and acid released at or from the Site as a result of historic mining activities are hazardous substances that have caused injuries to natural resources. Because of this extensive contamination, the Site was placed on the National Priorities List in September 1983. Emergency response actions and remediation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began in 1986. Most operable units have been delisted due to successful remedial actions. The Natural Resource Trustees (the “Trustees”), including agencies of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State of Colorado, determined that releases of hazardous substances from the Site resulted in injuries to surface water, terrestrial, and groundwater resources, including injuries to brown trout and other aquatic and riparian resources in the upper Arkansas River. The Trustees negotiated a $20.5 million settlement with several mining companies around 2007.
Since 2009, the Trustees have been implementing projects with numerous partners in the upper Arkansas River basin that include restoring over 20 miles of in-stream and riparian habitat, protecting habitat and wildlife corridors through land acquisitions and conservation easements, improving noxious weed control, enhancing wildlife habitat as part of recreationbased projects (e.g., trail re-alignment), abandoned mine lands reclamation, and improving fish passage.
Participants will see several places on the Superfund site, visit restoration sites, and have opportunity to stroll the streets of historic downtown Leadville, and visit the National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame before heading downriver to Salida. Short hiking options of 1/2 to 2 miles may be offered, depending on timing and interest. The elevations are approximately 7,000 to 10,200 feet.
Participants are encouraged to bring cameras as they will see the headwaters of the Arkansas River, historic mining towns, and breath-taking mountain vistas. They will also see wildlife in area, including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, osprey, American dipper, and tree swallows, to name a few.