Kerry Guy, Environmental Protection Agency on-scene coordinator at the Gold King Mine, stands in the mine tunnel on July 27. Stabilization work on the mine, which blew out Aug. 5, 2015, resumed this summer. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lazy days of summer are the vibe along the waters of the Animas River downstream from the Ninth Street Bridge. Don Norwood of Mesquite, Texas, enjoyed his Colorado vacation day on Aug. 1 fishing as others floated down the river.
A pedestrian races across Main Avenue on Eighth Street on Aug. 1, as an afternoon thunderstorm packing heavy rain, hail and lightning moved through downtown. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Workmen with Crossfire upgrade gas lines between east 11th Street and east 12th Street on Aug. 2. Atmos Energy is working in various locations in Durango upgrading gas lines. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Wyatt Meunier, 2, rides his strider bike across 12th Street along East Third Avenue on Aug. 2, as his dad, Vince Meunier, rides beside him. The father and son pair from Durango enjoyed cooler temperatures and cloudy skies blocking the sun’s full strength. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Will Jeffries, 6, dusts himself off after working on his baking at the annual La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association’s Chuck Wagon Cook-off on July 30. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Clint Combs, left with “Curly Cues” chuck wagon removes chicken-fried steak from the skillet as his son, Wyatt, watches July 30 during the annual La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association’s Chuck Wagon Cook-off. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Lavenia Taylor with the “Poverty Flats” chuck wagon checks on her bread during the annual La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association’s Chuck Wagon Cook-off on July 30. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Howard Grotts got his start in competitive mountain biking riding on trails with Durango Devo. Ten years after joining Durango’s youth cycling group, he is an Olympian. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Brooklynn Schmeiser rides her horse in the La Plata County Fairgrounds arena after practicing barrel racing on Aug. 3. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Olympian Howard Grotts hits the Rim Trail recently. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Workers inside the Gold King Mine attempt to stabilize rock on July 27, north of Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Pedestrians make their way past the Durango Welcome Center in the 800 block of Main Avenue on July 26. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Joe Ben Jr. talks about the importance of water and the role it has for future farmers in the Four Corners on his family farm south of Shiprock, N.M. Ben is advocating for an alternative source of irrigation water. The only source of irrigation water, the Hogback Canal, carries water from the Animas and San Juan rivers to family farms on the Navajo Nation near Shiprock. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Rebecca Thomas, the Environmental Protection Agency’s remedial project manager for the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site, speaks at the San Juan Mining Conference held at the DoubleTree on Aug. 4. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Tourists find old mining sites in the San Juan Mountains like the now-shuttered Sunnyside Mill, north of Silverton, fascinating. They enjoy climbing them, and they feel a connection to the bygone 19th century mining era. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The vast San Juan Mountains, as seen from a recent EcoFlight near Silverton, are subject to numerous mining claims. In addition, hundreds of inactive mines continue to compromise waterways. The Gold King Mine spill, which dumped 3 million gallons of mine waste into the watershed in 2015, brought the enormity of the water pollution issue to light. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Gold King Mine treatment ponds and facility are viewed from above during an EcoFlight near Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Take a look back The Durango Herald’s top photos of the week.
