New Mexico, Utah drop water restrictions after Colorado mine spill

New Mexico officials on Saturday night dropped San Juan County's restrictions on using the Animas and San Juan rivers for drinking water following a ban after a major mine wastewater spill in Colorado this month. The New Mexico Environment Department and the state's Game and Fish Department are also reopening the rivers for recreational use after the Aug. 5 spill at the Gold King Mine near Silverton. Ryan Flynn, New Mexico's environment secretary, said the bans were lifted "because the waters of the Animas and San Juan Rivers are now meeting all applicable water quality standards." "Recreational users of the Animas and San Juan rivers may notice some discoloration in the sediment along the river banks due to the spill," according to a state news release. "While there is continuing concern by New Mexico officials for long-term river health and for that of aquatic life, the environment and health departments do not anticipate adverse human health effects." he Navajo Nation, through which the San Juan runs 215 miles between New Mexico and Utah, has not lifted its recreational and agricultural water use restrictions...more