Animas River
Eureka to Howardsville
August 7-15, 1998
Objectives & Sequence of Events Objectives
The reach of the upper Animas River between the old town of Eureka to the town of Howardsville, Colorado is a candidate for stream restoration. An understanding of the hydrology and the pattern of metal loads in that stream reach will strengthen planning for restoration.
Objectives of the tracer-injection study in this reach of the Animas River include:
- Determine (for low flow conditions) if the stream reach is a net sink or source of metals to the downstream areas. Channel restoration may alter the current effect of this reach on the Animas River downstream, so an understanding of how the current channel works will help with planning.
- Determine any substantial sources of metal loads in the Animas River from Eureka to Howardsville. There are suspected "buried" tailings in past channels of the Animas River. The tracer study may point out the effects of buried tailings on the metal loads.
- Identify former stream channels in the alluvial material by the movement of tracer. If there is still alluvial flow through old channel paths, the tracer may indicate where these paths re-enter the current channel. A similar situation was indicated by tracer in French Gulch, Colorado.
Sequence of Events
August 7 Stream measurement and reconnaissance 10 Preparation of salt solution for tracer-dilution 11 Pre-synoptic Sampling (0700 - 1000) 11 Tracer Injection Begins (1000)
(aborted in p.m. due to pump failure)12 Tracer Injection Begins (1002) 13 Spot Injections 14 Synoptic Sampling 14 Tracer Injection Terminates (1930) 15 Sampling of Tracer Departure
Photo Gallery Sampling Locations
str - stream site rbi - right bank inflow lbi - left bank inflow 999 - number corresponds to distance from injection site, in meters.
Distance Type Description
1940 rbi 2090 lbi Culvert draining Forest Queen mine 3165 rbi 3405-3400 str Confluence of stream site 3400 (left) and inflow 3405 (right) 3450 rbi Maggie Gulch 3954 rbi 4189 lbi Beaver Pond 5210 rbi 5407 lbi 5648 lbi 6318 str 6438 lbi 6438 lbi_b 6438 lbi_c 6633 rbi Hematite Gulch 7008 lbi 7013 rbi 7013 rbi_b 7063 rbi 7250 str
Miscellaneous . Description
Stream Team (B. Carey, D. Niyogi, K. Walton-Day) Rob's home for 13 nights Chump Art
Results & Acknowledgments Results
Data analysis is incomplete at this time.
Acknowledgments
The Eureka to Howardsville synoptic was done in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Field assistance was provided by Ken Leib, Bill Carey, and members of the research team.
