Mountain Studies Institute has opened a new center in Silverton to help educate the public about the Animas River and natural history of the San Juan Mountains through exhibits, programs and interpretive hikes.
The Mountain Discovery Center opened at 114 East 12th Street in the Benson Building in Silverton last month, but the center will hold an official open house celebration on July 11.
“MSI has been in the area for 15 years, and this is our first real way to get out into the community on a consistent basis to let people know we’re doing great research,” said outreach coordinator Priscilla Sherman.
Mountain Studies Institute, based in Silverton but with offices in Durango, was founded in 2002 as a nonprofit to provide a wide range of research and learning studies, with a focus on the geology of the San Juan Mountains.
After the 2015 Gold King Mine spill, in which the Environmental Protect Agency accidentally caused a massive release of mine waste into the Animas and San Juan rivers, MSI emerged as one of the lead researching and monitoring entities in the basin.
In 2016, the EPA awarded a $100,000 Environmental Education Grant to MSI to “collaborate with the EPA to build awareness and understanding of the Animas River Watershed for residents, recreationalists and visitors,” an announcement said at that time.
Marcie Demmy Bidwell, executive director of MSI, said the grant, as well as funding from the Coutts and Clark Family Foundation, provided MSI the means to make good on a long-desired project.
“We’ve always wanted to have a venue to meet the public and share our science,” Bidwell said. “This is an opportunity for us to reach some of those non-technical audiences that have a love for the mountains and a curiosity to learn more.”
Planning for the Mountain Discovery Center began in earnest this winter, Bidwell said, and Silverton emerged as the most logical location.
“For one, it’s at the headwaters (of the Animas River),” Bidwell said. “And we felt there was a niche that was being served in the Silverton area.”
Since the Gold King Mine spill brought national attention to historic pollution from the legacy of hard rock mining, especially in the Animas watershed, educational efforts across the region have ramped up.
The Mountain Discovery Center, for instance, is targeted to reach an audience of all ages, from the locals who live here to visitors who take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that may have questions about water quality.
Sherman said the center’s varied exhibits and events will draw different age groups.
Adults, for instance, could be drawn to the number of history, geology and wildflower tours, as well as exhibits that delve deeper into the natural history of the San Juan Mountains.
For kids, Sherman said the center will offer interpretive, hands-on science exhibits and walks, as well as specialized classes such as learning how to use a camera.
“We don’t want it to be stagnant,” Sherman said. “So we’re going to keep changing what we offer so that people continue to return.”
DeAnne Gallegos, director of the Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce, said the discovery center adds another unique option for locals and tourists to learn about the mountains around Silverton, and hopefully, grow a respectful appreciation.
“When you instill respect and education into people, they just naturally become better users of our backcountry,” Gallegos said. “Once you have knowledge about something, it’s easier to make good decisions.”
The discovery center is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday through the summer, offering an exhibit that focuses on the importance of water and watershed throughout the country.
Bidwell said the discovery center will likely close its full-time hours after summer, opening throughout the winter for special events as the project evolves to what the public wants.
“We are taking a pulse on what people are excited about,” Bidwell said. “Our hopes are to expand and grow to be a full-fledge discovery and interpretive center, but it’s truly an experiment.”
“We’re excited to see what’s going to come out of it.”
Through the EPA grant, MSI will also create cross-media tools for watershed education, including a website and GIS story-maps; conduct a survey over the summer to understand residents’ and visitors’ perspectives of the watershed; and host stewardship projects to increase public engagement in water-quality improvement.
MSI will also organize the Silverton Innovation Expo from Aug. 14 to 16 as part of an effort to pursue an economic diversification strategy for the town.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
