Videos Celebrate Restoration Successes at California Gulch Superfund Site

Federal and State Natural Resource Trustees are excited to announce the release of two feature documentary films showcasing the extensive cleanup and restoration efforts at the California Gulch Superfund Site (Site) in Colorado. These short films highlight decades of collaboration and innovation that have transformed the area from an environmentally damaged landscape into a thriving natural ecosystem.

The Site encompasses over 15 square miles, including the town of Leadville and surrounding areas heavily impacted by historic mining activities. The Site includes more than 2,000 mine waste piles and the Yak Tunnel, which once discharged untreated water from underground mines into California Gulch.  Further downstream, mine wastes accumulated along river floodplains blanketing the valley floor in toxic residues. Releases of heavy metals and acid mine drainage caused significant injuries to surface water, terrestrial habitats, groundwater resources, and aquatic biota. Due to this extensive contamination, the Site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1983 and subsequently pursued for Natural Resource Damages, which funded wide-scale habitat restoration in the area. 

Since then, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remediation activities and restoration efforts led by the Natural Resource Trustees and local agencies, alongside private landowners and conservation partners, have achieved remarkable success, demonstrating the potential for ecological recovery through strategic partnerships. The Natural Resource Trustees include the U.S. Department of the Interior represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation; and the State of Colorado represented by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Colorado Department of Law.

Key restoration accomplishments include:

• Revitalization of the Arkansas River: Once deemed lifeless following the Yak Tunnel blowout in 1983 and other releases of hazardous substances from the Site, the river is now a Gold Medal Fishery, thriving with aquatic life.
• Innovative Habitat Restoration: Projects such as riparian vegetation restoration, riparian fencing, and conservation easements have enhanced environmental quality, and these areas now support diverse wildlife species.
• Community Benefits: Initiatives like the Parkville Water District improvements have increased water reliability and quality for Leadville residents, underscoring the interconnectedness of environmental health and local communities.

These restoration projects were supported by the Department’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, which has a mission to restore natural resources injured as a result of oil spills or hazardous substance releases into the environment. By working with responsible parties, the program recovers funds used to implement meaningful restoration efforts that restore lost or injured natural resources and associated services for the public.

The release of these documentaries celebrates the shared achievements of government agencies, private stakeholders, conservation organizations, and local communities in addressing environmental challenges and promoting restoration and the return of sustainable recreation and land use. The films are now available on the Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment’s YouTube channel. 

• Trailer

• NRDAR Film

• Feature Film

For more information about natural resource damage assessment and restoration at the Site, visit DARTs.