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CO Floods 2013 - Jamestown Debris

 
Site Contact:
Steven Way
OSC

(Way.Steven@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Jamestown, CO 80455
 response.epa.gov/COFlood-JamestownDebris

EPA started work onsite on October 30th, after being tasked by FEMA on October 26th, to perform a limited debris removal effort through Jamestown, CO that was heavily damaged during the 2013 flooding.

Flood related debris in James Canyon, such as trees, construction materials, structures, road and bridge materials, alluvial deposits (sand to boulder size rock) are deposited in and along the James Creek and Little James Creek channels. Debris management is critical to preventing additional damage to property, infrastructure and potential releases of hazardous substances associated with two mine tailings sites (Bueno Mine/Streamside Tailings and the Elysian Park Tailings ). In addition, it is essential to remove this debris from the James Creek Canyon channels prior to any effective channel restoration work that might be planned.

The existing debris can be expected in the future to cause an accumulation of debris and potential channel blockage and flow diversion as the material is transported. As it accumulates, debris is likely to create unstable damming or flow diversions, leading to further channel instability and potential structure and infrastructure damage.

Environmental and human health threats exist associated with mine/mill tailings that contain high concentrations of heavy metals immediately above the residential areas in Jamestown. In addition, the Left Hand Creek watershed provide drinking water to Jamestown and to 20,000 residents downstream of both the “Streamside tailings” and Elysian Park tailings adjacent to James Creek.

See EPA Youtube video at: see The Pennsylvania Mine video at:

EPA Emergency Response: 2013 Colorado Floods-Jamestown, Colorado


Overbank deposit on south bank on James Creek at town center below Anderson Rd, before debris clearing Bridge at 59 Ward St. before debris clearing 59 Ward St. house before debris clearing Downstream of Main St, after debris clearing Upstream of Main St, after debris clearing Downstream of Main St, after debris clearing Downstream of Ward St, after debris clearing Downstream of Ward St, after debris clearing New culvert on Ward, Measure from 67 ward to here Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal 67 ward-measure to culvert on little James Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., before debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St., before debris removal Ward St., before debris removal Ward St., after debris removal Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, Before debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, After debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, After debris clearing Ward St. On Little James Creek, After debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings, After debris removal, end of debris clearing below tailings as of 11/13/13 Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings, After debris removal Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings, After debris removal James Creek along Ward St. behind #9 Ward St - trees and C & D across creek. Eysian Park Tailings Impoundmet - debris in James Creek and tailings on creek bank. Town Center debris across James Crk Town Center debris behind Post Office House debris along James Crk in the Town Center. James Creek along Ward Rd. after debris clearing Intersection Ward Rd. and Mill Rd. after debris clearing Ward Rd. after debris removal Ward Rd. after debris removal Ward Rd. after debris removal James Ck along Ward Rd. after debris removal. Channel bannks stabilized at Water Treatment Plant. Ward Rd. after debris removal Ward Rd. after debris removal Entrance to Ward Rd., after debris removal James Creek at Elysian Park; before debris clearing Upstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings along Little James Creek; before debris clearing Downstream of Elysian Park before debris clearing Downstream of Elysian Park before debris clearing Downstream of Elysian Park after debris clearing Debris pile pulled from channel at Elysian Park, after debris clearing Downstream of Elysian Park before debris clearing Elysian Park area after debris clearing Downstream James Creek in Jamestown before debris clearing Downstream James Creek in Jamestown before debris clearing Downstream James Creek in Jamestown before debris clearing Downstream James Creek in Jamestown before debris clearing Channel below Main St. bridge, before debris clearing Channel narrowed due to alluvial overbank and debris below Main St. Bridge, before clearing Channel narrowed due to alluvial overbank below Main St. Bridge, before clearing James Creek in town behind USPS, before debris clearing James Creek in town across from Mercantile, before debris clearing James Creek in town across from Mercantile, facing upstream, before debris clearing James Creek in town behind USPS, before debris clearing James Creek in town behind USPS, facing upstream, before debris clearing James Creek in town behind USPS, before debris clearing Junction of James Creek and Little James Creek at Ward St., debris clearing in progress Junction of James Creek and Little James Creek at Ward St., debris clearing in progress Junction of James Creek and Little James Creek at Ward St., debris clearing in progress Junction of James Creek and Little James Creek at Ward St., debris clearing in progress Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Downstream of Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings to Ward St. on Little James Creek, before debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, timber cleared from channel and staged for pickup Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Fike Rd. to Bueno Mine-Streamside Tailings on Little James Creek, after debris clearing Jamestown - home, trees and other debris in town center on creek bank