ap

Skip to content
Environment | Thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado are…
Monday, June 22nd 2026

Trending:

Breaking News

News
Environment

Thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado are leaking toxic water, but Congress finally has a solution in sight

Groups face liability burden in cleaning up 1,800 miles of streams in state that are polluted by drainage

Jason Willis, a mine restoration project manager with Trout Unlimited, works to rehabilitate an abandoned mine site to improve water quality for nearby wetlands and Mosquito Creek near Alma, Colorado, on Sept. 16, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Jason Willis, a mine restoration project manager with Trout Unlimited, works to rehabilitate an abandoned mine site to improve water quality for nearby wetlands and Mosquito Creek near Alma, Colorado, on Sept. 16, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 8: Elise Schmelzer - Staff portraits at the Denver Post studio. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
By | eschmelzer@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Polluted water leaking from thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado's mountains is turning wetlands orange and dumping toxic metals into rivers.
Already have an account Log In
This article is only available to subscribers
Flash Sale

Standard Digital

$1 for 1 year
Offer valid for non-subscribers only

RevContent Feed

More in Environment