Central Colorado Humanists Sunday Science March2
“Protecting our Rivers: Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation” is the title of the Central Colorado Humanists Sunday Science Program for March 2. Jason Willis, P.E., Director of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program for the Western U.S. for Trout Unlimited (TU) will speak on the complex nature of AML clean-ups from the technological and legal perspectives.
The rich mining heritage of western states has left a legacy of abandoned mines that degrade the water quality of streams and rivers and pose a risk of catastrophic spills and blowouts. With 23,000 abandoned mines across Colorado chances are good you have an abandoned mine “time bomb” near your water. Since 2004, TU’s Mine Restoration Projects in the Western U.S. have restored riparian habitat, improved water quality, and reconnected rivers and tributaries for native trout. Yet, the specter of abandoned mines remains a massive threat to our watersheds, fish, and communities that goes largely unnoticed. Raising public awareness and solving the technical, regulatory, and funding challenges around cleaning up these messes is only part of the picture.
Willis’ full-time tenure with TU began in October 2012, focusing on reclamation of mining impacted areas, stream channel morphology and river dynamics, soil and water chemistry, with project management/oversight at over 50 phases of cleanup across Colorado. He now directs TU’s AML program in 5 additional western states. Willis educates partners about the complex nature of AML cleanups from both technical and legal perspectives, and how best we can collaborate across organizations.
Central Colorado Humanists sponsor Sunday Science on the first Sunday of each month. Each presentation is informative and features a science topic that is understandable by both scientists and non-scientists. The doors open at 9:30 a. m. and the talk begins promptly at 10 a. m. Admission is free, and the public is welcome. Please note the change of location to A Church, 419 D Street, Salida, CO, and join us.