The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality says they’ve completed several projects to prevent contamination of the Hassayampa River from the long-defunct Senator Mine south of Prescott.
Crews installed drains to prevent water from contacting piles of mine tailings and pipes to divert river water away from the mine site.
The emergency effort came after a field visit in May. During the visit, state officials saw that a concrete plug installed in a historic mine shaft was redirected water into the mine’s tailings pile.
“The urgency and severe threat of mine waste collapsing into the Hassayampa River necessitated swift and extreme measures,” ADEQ Deputy Director Karen Peters said.
The mine was at risk of collapsing and contaminating the Hassayampa River.
“I am pleased to report that our team was able to complete this tremendous undertaking, which successfully diverted around 800 feet of the Hassayampa River — a feat that has never been done before," Peters said. "This work was the critical first step in the ongoing effort to address the legacy impacts at this site. We are committed to ensuring the long-term safety of the Hassayampa River and its surrounding ecosystems."
ADEQ will continue to monitor and maintain the feature as they work to develop a long-term cleanup strategy. However, it will likely take years to fully mitigate the impacts of the 19th-century gold mine and restore the river to its original flow.