Royal Gorge Abandoned Mines Program

The RGFO has had an active Abandoned Mined Land Program ongoing since 1993.  The program began as an inventory program. 

Over a few years, our office accumulated an inventory of features and sites in the field office area.  These sites were initially kept on hard copy files then transferred to a data base. Today those records are housed on a national data base and these records can be reviewed on the BLM site known as Geocommunicator.

The BLM has developed a mechanism for mapping abandoned mines that is based on sites and features.  Basically a site is a geographic location that may include a number of features such as roads, buildings, shafts, adits, etc.   When work is contemplated, one or more sites or features may be combined into a project.  Starting in 1998 a number of projects were implemented focusing on both environmental and safety issues.  These projects are discussed in those two sections.

The RGFO has developed a close working relationship with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) regarding abandoned mines work.  The CDRMS has had an ongoing program for about 25 years and have the expertise on hand to develop abandoned mine projects.  Additionally the BLM and the CDRMS have developed cost sharing approaches to completing projects.

Environmental Restoration Projects

• Dinero Tunnel Dumps (complete)
• Dinero Tunnel (in progress)
• Milsap Project (major earth work completed in 2007)
• Dutch Flats and Powhatten Projects (complete)
• Tiger Tunnel (being analyzed)
• Westcliffe dumps
• Querida mill (planned)
• Other Colorado Gulch work (planned)

Safety Closure Projects

Time permitting we will activate the following projects with additional information.

• Oliver Twist
• Leadville East
• Low Pass Gulch
• Buena Vista East (and overlook project)
• Salida East
• Temple Canyon
• Dakota Ridge
• Central City/Black Hawk area (several projects)
• Ward area (several projects)
• Gold Hill Area (several projects)
• Dutch Flats/Powhatten
• Kankakee (planned for 2008/2009)
• Signal Hill
• Rhyolite mountain (planned for 2009/2010)