U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Governor Basin

 
Site Contact:
Taylor Bowker
OSC

(bowker.taylor@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Ouray, CO 81427
 response.epa.gov/GovernorBasin

Updates:

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Ouray Ranger District has temporarily closed portions of the Governor Basin area to protect public health and safety while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees a time-critical cleanup at the abandoned Governor Basin Mine site. Cleanup work will be performed by Fafo Holdings, LLC under the oversight of the EPA in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Closure dates:

  • July 13th – 25th, 2026
  • August 3rd – November 30th, 2026, unless the closure is lifted earlier.

Background:

Abandoned mine waste is eroding into the headwaters of the Governor Basin watershed. Drainage from the Terrible Two adit carries contaminated water and sediment into the watershed, and an impoundment of contaminated water has formed at the base of waste pile. The area is heavily used for summer recreation, and portions of the adjacent 4x4 road, parking area, and surrounding soils contain elevated levels of lead and arsenic.

Over the years, EPA, the U.S. Forest Service, local stakeholders, and current property owners have partnered on multiple abandoned mine cleanup projects throughout the Governor Basin watershed to reduce risks to the community and the environment.

At the request of local stakeholders, EPA is overseeing a time-critical removal action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund) to address contaminated mine waste at the abandoned Governor Mine site. The work includes consolidating hazardous mine waste containing elevated levels of lead and arsenic, installing drainage channels, and implementing erosion-control measures to reduce the ongoing release of contaminated sediment into nearby waterways.

To safely complete the cleanup, the USFS has temporarily closed portions of the Governor Basin area, including sections of the public 4x4 road and portions of the Virginius Mine Trails that pass through the active work area. Heavy equipment and construction crews will be operating through the cleanup, and visitors are asked to respect all closures for their safety.