Water
Management finds source of recent water contamination
By
Sammie Snoop, Staff Reporter
Silver Cliff—With Slippery Creek’s Jose Rodridguez’s discovery
three weeks ago that, for the first time, the majority of the
fish he caught in the creek were dead, the county has begun an
investigation of the water quality.
Megan Lee Jones of Silver Co. Water Management wasn’t surprised
that the community was finally feeling the effects of MH Mining
Company.
Upon visiting the old mine site on Silver Cliff, Jones
found that one of the piles of tailings had experienced a landslide,
separating the heavy metals and handing over their future to Mother
Nature.
The heavy rains that the area experienced last month likely
washed these fresh remnants from over a decade of mining down
the mountain and into Slippery Creek.
Jones has been in contact with the state’s division of
the Environmental Protection Agency.
“I have demanded that they get out here and test our water.
The toxins have likely flown into the [Trout] Lake.
In that type of environment, the metals will be stationary
for months.”
Mayor Millhouse assured the community in a speech at the
mining site last night.
“Our number one priority in this situation is to stabilize
the tailing piles, and I guarantee that this process will be done
in a timely fashion.”
Until given further notice, the Water Management has advised
that residents do not swim in, drink from, or eat fish from Slippery
Creek.
