The effects of mining pollution are the subject of a new state and federal government-led study in Lake Powell. Sediment at the bottom of the reservoir will undergo analysis to understand what impact mining runoff, including that of the Gold King Mine spill, has on the river basin.
For the Glen Canyon Institute, a non-profit working to restore its namesake flooded by the reservoir’s creation, the study adds another element to understanding the future of Lake Powell.
“Any new research or information that can help improve management is a good thing,” Eric Balken, the institute’s executive director, said. “It’s just going to become more and more important that we take a close look at those pollutants.”
Balken joined KSJD’s Daniel Rayzel to explain what the study could mean for the discourse on the reservoir’s necessity.
