Captain Jack Superfund Site
We are working to help our community understand, analyze, interpret, communicate, and respond to information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) related to the Captain Jack Superfund site.
The “Captain Jack Over the Years” timeline below describes events and actions over time at the Captain Jack Superfund site. This timeline serves as a community resource for understanding technical reports, site conditions, and the EPA’s proposed cleanup proposals and decisions. Funding for the timeline was provided by an EPA Technical Assistance Grant. Content was developed with help from the following technical advisors: Pinyon Environmental and Dr. Joe Ryan, PhD, University of Colorado – Boulder.
Project Partners
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1861 Mining Begins in the Ward District
Mining activity began in 1861 following the discovery of gold and silver in the mountains west of Boulder. This area is part of the Front Range (or Colorado) Mineral Belt, […]
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Late 1800s Water Quality Issues Reported
Water quality issues were likely occurring since mining began in the area. By 1938, the Left Hand Ditch Company formed a Pollution Committee and filed suit against some of the […]
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1896 Captain Jack Mill Construction
Approximately 12 mines were operated in the headwaters area of the Left Hand Creek watershed by the early 1900’s. Each mine can involve a labyrinth of tunnels and shafts that […]
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1992 Captain Jack Mine Closure
After nearly a century of activity under multiple owners at the Captain Jack Mine, the site shut down in 1992. In the ten years prior, the Captain Jack Ltd. Company […]
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2003 EPA Superfund Designation of Captain Jack
By 2003, Captain Jack Mill was listed on the EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) because the water in Left Hand Creek continued to show impacts of acid mine drainage and […]
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2008 Record of Decision Issued
In 2008, Captain Jack Mill Superfund site completed a final Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD is a pivotal point in the Superfund Remediation Process, as it defines the approach […]
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2013 Surface Remediation Completed
The surface remediation occurred from 2011 to 2013. This work aimed to reduce human exposure to harmful toxins in the tailings and other waste materials, and reduce exposure of tailings […]
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2015 Sub-Surface Remediation Began
The Subsurface Remediation began in late 2015. This work aims to reduce the negative impacts of acid mine drainage (AMD) using novel remediation techniques that will require no long-term operations. […]
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2018 Emergency Release and Fish Kill Occurred
In October 2018, Left Hand Creek landowners reported a fish kill up to 10 miles downstream of the Captain Jack Mine. The fish kill was a result of a standard […]
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2020 Sub-Surface Remediation Continued
After the emergency release and resulting fish kill, the sub-surface remediation activities were paused as the EPA and CDPHE, and contractors were hired to revisit the approach. While the original […]
Captain Jack Image Gallery
Mine Tunnel
The Big Five Tunnel and upper tailings pond of the Captain Jack Mill abandoned mine site in Left Hand Watershed.
Temporary Treatment Plant
A temporary treatment plant used to actively treat mine water during periods elevated effluent flow.
Watershed Center Staff
Watershed Center staff samples mine effluent at the Big Five Tunnel for pH and metals.
Treatment System
The complete active treatment system used at the Big Five Tunnel in the winter of 2018.