Understanding the science and accessing information about the Animas River spill can be a challenge to the lay person, so Fort Lewis College is offering its resources to the community.

“As FLC professors and students begin to arrive back on campus ahead of the first day of classes on Aug. 31, discussions have already begun regarding the Animas River spill and how the college can best serve the community,” FLC spokesman Mitch Davis said. “One way is to utilize FLC’s research capabilities to assist the Environmental Protection Agency and other entities in studying the river when called upon, as well as conduct independent analysis. The college can then offer that information to the public.”

Geosciences professor Ray Kenny prepared the first of what the college expects to be periodic updates explaining the process and most current scientific results. One of Kenny’s areas of instruction is groundwater hydrology.

“The EPA is presently following all proper protocol with respects to water sampling and testing,” he said in the update. “Good data is a requisite for moving forward and developing a proper long-term plan.”

The Geosciences Department has already taken its own samples from the Animas River and is waiting for results from an EPA- and state of Colorado-certified laboratory. The department has also offered to assist the EPA and United States Geological Survey in installing water auto-samplers along the Animas from Silverton to the New Mexico state line.

FLC’s scientists will be looking at both short-term and long-term consequences of the spill, Davis said.

Meanwhile, Reed Library at FLC has created a library guide for the spill.

“The guide will serve as a repository for information and resources related to the spill,” Davis said, “including media coverage and government releases. The guide is open to everyone and can be viewed online.”

“The Reed Library is committed to helping Fort Lewis College students, faculty and staff meet their needs for relevant, accurate, credible and timely information,” said Martha Talman, library director. “That mission extends to Durango, La Plata County and the Four Corners region. Selecting and organizing resources on a topic as important to our community as the recent Gold King discharge into the Animas River is one way of helping people be informed and stay current.”

The guide, which was created by science librarian Eric Prosser, will be updated on a regular basis as information becomes available, Talman said.

“We encourage people interested in learning more about this topic to visit the site and to contact us if they have questions, comments or suggestions,” Talman said.

abutler@durangoherald.com

On the Net

To view Fort Lewis College’s Animas River updates, visit http://bit.ly/1HMc5eo.

To view the Reed Library guide, visit http://subjectguides.fortlewis.edu/c.php?g=364191.