Silverton Mining Legacy day 1

Toxic water flows out of the American Tunnel north of Silverton. The water dumps into Cement Creek and then into the Animas River in Silverton. The structure at the site was once used to treat the water from the tunnel with limestone. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Toxic water flows out of the American Tunnel north of Silverton dumping in to Cement Creek that empties into the Animas River in the middle of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Walking in the so-called “kill zone” below the Red and Bonita Mine, Peter Butler, co-coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group, sees water carrying high levels of metals that will flow into Cement Creek north of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing from the Red and Bonita Mine north of Silverton leaves a wake of lifelessness in its path. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Walking in the so-called “kill zone” below the Red and Bonita Mine, Peter Butler, co-coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group, sees water carrying high levels of metals that will flow into Cement Creek north of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

The color of creek rocks indicates the heavy amount of minerals coming from the Red and Bonita Mine. Some of the mineralization is natural, but scientists believe much is caused by drainage from abandoned mines. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing from the Red and Bonita Mine north of Silverton leaves a wake of lifelessness in its path. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

A mill used to sit at this site below the Red and Bonita Mine. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Walking in the so-called “kill zone” below the Red and Bonita Mine, Peter Butler, co-coordinator of the Animas River Stakeholders Group, sees water carrying high levels of metals that will flow into Cement Creek north of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing from the Red and Bonita Mine north of Silverton leaves a wake of lifelessness in its path. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing down the mountainside out of the Red and Bonita Mine contains high levels of manganese, zinc, copper, lead, Cadmium, aluminum, and iron that will make its way into Cement Creek that inhibits aquatic life and vegetation. Since about 2004, metal concentrations in Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas River, have “easily doubled,” says Peter Butler of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Old mining equipment litter the mountainside of the Red and Bonita Mine. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing down the mountainside out of the Red and Bonita Mine contains high levels of manganese, zinc, copper, lead, Cadmium, aluminum, and iron that will make its way into Cement Creek that inhibits aquatic life and vegetation. Since about 2004 metal concentrations in Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas River, have “easily doubled,” says Peter Butler of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing down the mountainside out of the Red and Bonita Mine contains high levels of manganese, zinc, copper, lead, Cadmium, aluminum, and iron that will make its way into Cement Creek that inhibits aquatic life and vegetation. Since about 2004, metal concentrations in Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas River, have “easily doubled,” says Peter Butler of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing down the mountainside out of the Red and Bonita Mine contains high levels of manganese, zinc, copper, lead, Cadmium, aluminum, and iron that will make its way into Cement Creek that inhibits aquatic life and vegetation. Since about 2004 metal concentrations in Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas River, have “easily doubled,” says Peter Butler of the Animas River Stakeholders Group. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency work at Red and Bonita Mine north of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Sedimentation ponds have been dug to settle out sludge that will be kicked up when exploring the Red and Bonita Mine in the near future. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing from the Red and Bonita Mine north of Silverton leaves a wake of lifelessness in its path. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing out of the Gold King Mine No. 7 level one carries the highest load of metals anywhere in the Animas basin, into North Fork Cement Creek north of Silverton. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

The Red and Bonita Mine sits below Rocky Mountain peaks. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing out of portals next to Mogul Mine, and flowing of out the mine, not seen, will quickly reach Cement Creek, adding to the heavy concentration of minerals. The most northern big mine in the Cement Creek drainage area started leaking out of its portals in 2006, but the main mine has always been draining. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald

Water flowing out of portals next to Mogul Mine and flowing of out the mine, not seen, will quickly reach Cement Creek, adding to the heavy concentration of minerals. The most northern big mine in the Cement Creek drainage area started leaking out of its portals in 2006, but the main mine has always been draining. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald