Researchers find patches of heavy metals along Colorado, New Mexico river after mine spill

[Judi Lynn]

Researchers find patches of heavy metals along Colorado, New Mexico river after mine spill
Sep 18, 2015 Dan Elliott, The Associated Press

DENVER – Researchers say they found scattered accumulations of heavy metals along a 60-mile stretch of riverbank in Colorado and New Mexico a month after the Gold King Mine wastewater spill and say that any potential threat to crops and livestock should be studied further.

David Weindorf of Texas Tech University and Kevin Lombard of New Mexico State University said they found patches of discolored sludge containing elevated levels of iron, copper, zinc, arsenic and lead along the Animas River from around Farmington, New Mexico, to just north of Durango, Colorado.

The concentrations of those metals were higher than at other sites they tested on the riverbank and on nearby irrigated and non-irrigated land, Weindorf said.

None of the high readings was found in ditches that carry irrigation water to crops, Weindorf said. Irrigation systems along the Animas were closed before the mustard-colored plume of tainted wastewater drifted downstream after the Aug. 5 blowout at the Gold King in southwestern Colorado.

More:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/business-news/researchers-find-patches-of-heavy-metals-along-colorado-new-mexico-river-after-mine-spill/

[Wellstone ruled]

1. All this crud will end up in Lake Powell

this Winter and with the Spring flush the balance will find it's way into the lake. Bad case scenario no matter what. Sounds like there are other instances from other areas that have not been reported.