The Bonita Peak Superfund cleanup near Silverton, explained calmly

The same mining that built Silverton left something behind in the high creeks: old mine workings that drain water carrying metals into the streams above town. This is the heart of what is now called the Bonita Peak Mining District.

After the Gold King Mine release drew national attention, the federal government added the district to its Superfund list, which sets up a long-term, managed cleanup. The work focuses on draining mines and metal-laden water feeding Cement Creek, Mineral Creek, and the upper Animas River. This is a slow, multi-year effort run by the Environmental Protection Agency with the state and local partners.

For someone living near or visiting the area, the calm version is this: it is a known, documented condition that agencies are actively managing, not a secret. If you are buying property, recreating on the water, or just curious how it affects the river, the facts are public.

For current status, study area maps, and water-quality details, rely on the EPA’s Bonita Peak Mining District pages and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment rather than rumor.