Monitoring for Potential Effects of the Gold King Mine Release on Water Quality in the Animas and San Juan Rivers in New Mexico using Continuous Monitors and Automatic Samplers
On August 5, 2015, about three million gallons of water and sediment were released from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River. The New Mexico Environment Department, among other State, Tribal, and local entities in CO, NM, and UT, is concerned that metals associated with the water and sediment released from the Gold King Mine could have long-term detrimental effects on surface-water quality of the Animas and San Juan Rivers, with potential risks to human health and the environment
The USGS, in cooperation with the New Mexico Environment Department, proposes to collect, analyze, and report surface-water quality data to characterize post-release conditions. The objectives of the study are to provide data that will improve the understanding of post-GKM-release surface-water quality for the Animas and San Juan Rivers under a variety of hydrologic conditions, including during high-flow events, and to provide real-time data on flow and field parameters that affected stakeholders can use to take whatever actions they feel might be necessary to protect public health. To accomplish these objectives, for a period of one year at four sites on the Animas and San Juan Rivers, the USGS will conduct continuous monitoring of water-quality parameters and will collect integrated water-quality samples during snowmelt runoff for analysis of major ions and dissolved and total metals. One site also will be instrumented with an automatic sampler to collect water-quality samples during snowmelt and storm events for analysis of major ions and total metals. The resulting data will be available through the National Water Information Systems database and its associated Web applications.
Water quality parameter sondes with Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH and Turbidity probes have been installed along the Animas and San Juan Rivers. Currently, the sondes are set up to perform continuous monitoring of these parameters. Once a month, discrete measurements will be made at the locations shown on the map.
Approach:
- Install water-quality instrumentation at existing USGS streamgaging stations downstream of the GKM release
- Collect and report continuous and discrete water-quality data
Objectives:
- Provide data that will improve the understanding of post-GKM-release surface-water quality
- Provide real-time data on streamflow, pH, temperature, specific conductance, and turbidity
Site Data:
Animas River near Cedar Hill, NM, 09363500, streamflow, summary of available data
Animas River below Aztec, NM09364010, streamflow, summary of available data
San Juan River at Farmington, NM09365000, streamflow, summary of available data
San Juan River at Shiprock, NM09368000, streamflow, summary of available data
Webpages with additional information
- WaterAlert homepage (subscription information is available under the "How To Use WaterAlert" tab)
- New Mexico Environment Department: Animas River - Gold King Mine Wastewater Spill Response
- USGS Water-Quality Data and Activities for the 2015 Gold King Mine Release
- USGS Colorado Water Science Center webpage with Streamflow and Water-Quality Monitoring Information for sites in the Animas and San Juan River Basin
Sonde Installation
Multi-parameter water quality sondes were installed from March 7, 2016 through March 9, 2016.
Real-time transmissions can be found at: Current Conditions for New Mexico Streamflow
Information on how to: Compare Data Among Continuous Monitoring Sites
Photos:
On August 5, 2015, about three million gallons of water and sediment were released from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River. The New Mexico Environment Department, among other State, Tribal, and local entities in CO, NM, and UT, is concerned that metals associated with the water and sediment released from the Gold King Mine could have long-term detrimental effects on surface-water quality of the Animas and San Juan Rivers, with potential risks to human health and the environment
The USGS, in cooperation with the New Mexico Environment Department, proposes to collect, analyze, and report surface-water quality data to characterize post-release conditions. The objectives of the study are to provide data that will improve the understanding of post-GKM-release surface-water quality for the Animas and San Juan Rivers under a variety of hydrologic conditions, including during high-flow events, and to provide real-time data on flow and field parameters that affected stakeholders can use to take whatever actions they feel might be necessary to protect public health. To accomplish these objectives, for a period of one year at four sites on the Animas and San Juan Rivers, the USGS will conduct continuous monitoring of water-quality parameters and will collect integrated water-quality samples during snowmelt runoff for analysis of major ions and dissolved and total metals. One site also will be instrumented with an automatic sampler to collect water-quality samples during snowmelt and storm events for analysis of major ions and total metals. The resulting data will be available through the National Water Information Systems database and its associated Web applications.
Water quality parameter sondes with Temperature, Specific Conductance, pH and Turbidity probes have been installed along the Animas and San Juan Rivers. Currently, the sondes are set up to perform continuous monitoring of these parameters. Once a month, discrete measurements will be made at the locations shown on the map.
Approach:
- Install water-quality instrumentation at existing USGS streamgaging stations downstream of the GKM release
- Collect and report continuous and discrete water-quality data
Objectives:
- Provide data that will improve the understanding of post-GKM-release surface-water quality
- Provide real-time data on streamflow, pH, temperature, specific conductance, and turbidity
Site Data:
Animas River near Cedar Hill, NM, 09363500, streamflow, summary of available data
Animas River below Aztec, NM09364010, streamflow, summary of available data
San Juan River at Farmington, NM09365000, streamflow, summary of available data
San Juan River at Shiprock, NM09368000, streamflow, summary of available data
Webpages with additional information
- WaterAlert homepage (subscription information is available under the "How To Use WaterAlert" tab)
- New Mexico Environment Department: Animas River - Gold King Mine Wastewater Spill Response
- USGS Water-Quality Data and Activities for the 2015 Gold King Mine Release
- USGS Colorado Water Science Center webpage with Streamflow and Water-Quality Monitoring Information for sites in the Animas and San Juan River Basin
Sonde Installation
Multi-parameter water quality sondes were installed from March 7, 2016 through March 9, 2016.
Real-time transmissions can be found at: Current Conditions for New Mexico Streamflow
Information on how to: Compare Data Among Continuous Monitoring Sites
Photos: