Gold King Mine Spill

PAGE, AZ – The National Park Service (NPS) has received numerous inquiries from local residents and park visitors regarding the effects of the Gold King Mine spill on waters within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The incident is being managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Current information on the spill is available at http://www.EPA.gov/GoldKingMine.

Contaminated wastewater from the Gold King Mine has not reached Lake Powell or the San Juan River within Glen Canyon. “We have not received information from the EPA indicating that we need to modify our operations due to health concerns related to the quality of water heading towards our park,” said Superintendent, Todd Brindle. There are currently no closures in effect on Lake Powell.

The EPA has advised that the leading edge of the plume was last reported as east of Shiprock, NM and is no longer visible due to dilution and sediment levels in the river.

Several state and federal agencies, including the NPS, will be monitoring waters within Glen Canyon to assess potential effects associated with the plume from the Gold King Mine release. These stations will test for water quality parameters such as: conductivity, drinking water standards, sediments and metals. Samples will be collected in Lake Powell, the San Juan River, and downstream of the Glen Canyon Dam near Lees Ferry.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Glen Canyon has established a hotline to provide the most current visitor information at (928) 608-6404.