On Wednesday evening, select irrigation ditches were inspected and flushed as a first step toward opening the ditches for farmers and ranchers who depend on the Animas River for watering livestock and crops.
Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency coordinated the effort with Butch Knowlton, director of the La Plata County Office of Emergency Management.
People just getting used to seeing the Animas looking more like itself should not be concerned if they see a short-term change.
“I expect to see a slight temporary change in color of the Animas River as a result of the ditch flushing,” Knowlton said.
They will develop a plan to open and flush remaining ditches based on the results of the initial flush.
“Despite the opening of the ditches, owners of livestock are cautioned against allowing livestock watering at this time,” the county, city of Durango, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the EPA said in a joint news release Wednesday night. “Butch Knowlton has requested additional involvement from veterinary science experts from national, state and local levels to help address concerns that residents have expressed about their livestock.”
Meanwhile, San Juan Basin Health Department and the city of Durango are assisting the EPA by maintaining the Call Center and providing geographic-information-system mapping of properties that have domestic water wells.
Sampling continues on domestic water wells. A total of 54 residential water well samples were taken through Tuesday, with another 24 private water wells scheduled to have been sampled Wednesday. Individual well owners will be contacted directly as their results are completed, with written validated results to be mailed later.
EPA technicians took 19 sediment samples Tuesday, with validated results expected Sunday. The state health department has taken its own sediment samples and expects results Thursday.
