Was the Gold King spill a simple screw-up on the EPA’s part or was this a glimpse of what is in store for Colorado’s mined-out communities? As a San Juan Mountains local, it has always been apparent to me that mining has taken serious tolls on the mountains and creeks: Beautiful alpine peaks soaked bright red and orange with golden creeks babbling through yellow-tinted basins. The great colors stain the ecosystem as a vibrant reminder of their tortured past. However, now it is apparent that the real issues are the ones we can’t see: those that are tainting our precious water.

And yet the people who call these mountains home are turning their backs on their most important resource. I can’t blame anyone for being scared or skeptical of mine reclamation, especially after our most recent attempt, but that should be no reason to just look away. As our community is getting national coverage for its toxic river, it is the time to re-evaluate how we want to be viewed as a community and an ecosystem – especially for a region that relies so heavily on tourism; rafting companies might not consider the yellow river to be good publicity. And still the idea of a Superfund designation sends chills down locals’ backs for fear that tourism will be harmed by the label. I agree that this federal program needs to be questioned before any serious decisions are made, but as a community, we should be asking questions such as, “What methods of water treatment will be used?” and “How can we secure funding along with the national spotlight?”

Now is the time to be looking at the bigger picture of water safety and environmental restoration in Southwest Colorado. We can’t let the ignorance and negligence of mining continue into the 21st century by ignoring the problem and letting it escalate. We have inherited this beautiful oasis and it is up to us to take care of it. Don’t let the fear of a lower property value let you lose sight in the importance of our environment.

Eno Ulshafer

Durango