Bill Simon makes jewelry at his Hermosa home north of Durango. “I’ve collected so many rocks over the years that I decided it was time to do something with them,” said Simon, who retired after more than 20 years as a coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bill Simon sits in his office at his Hermosa home. Simon retired after more than 20 years as a coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group.

After retiring, Bill Simon has taken up making jewelry at his Hermosa home. “I’ve collected so many rocks over the years that I decided it was time to do something with them,” said Simon, who was coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group for more than 20 years. By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bill Simon works on some of his jewelry at his Hermosa home north of Durango. “I’ve collected so many rocks over the years that I decided it was time to do something with them,” said Simon, who retired after more than 20 years as a coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bill Simon stands on Bakers Bridge above the Animas River on Aug. 6, looking at the results of the Gold King Mine spill. He later said, “I think that was the brightest color I’ve ever seen the river.” By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bill Simon has retired after more than 20 years as a coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bill Simon, co-coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group, takes a soil sample in 2013 below the San Antonio Mine and above the Congress Mine, behind him, near Red Mountain Pass. Remediation was conducted in the area years earlier. Simon was there to collect soil and plant samples to see if there is a reason some plants did not grow in some areas. By Jerry McBride/Durango Herald