Improvements to the Upper Arkansas River Attributable to Operation of theLeadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Treatment Plant

摘要

The Bureau of Reclamation began operation of th LMDT (Leadville Mine DrainageTunnel) treatment plant in 1992 to treat drainage water from many of the underground mines located near Leadville, Colorado. The drainage water from these mines contained toxic levels of heavy metals that has a negative impact on the water quality, fishery, and other aquatic fauna of the Arkansas River. This river presents the results of post-operation improvements in the water quality of the river, which enhanced conditions for the fishery and other aquatic organisms.