Big Five Mine

Big Five Mine, Ward, Boulder County, Colorado

The Big Five Mine was a gold mine started in 1861.  The Captain Jack Mill processed ores at the site from 1981 to 1992, when it was closed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  Acidic water is emanating from the Big Five Mine adit and flowing into Lefthand Creek.  

Team

Doug Cannon, Law School, J.D. candidate
Evan Frenkel, Design Studies, B.A. candidate
Lily Isenhart, Environ/Chemical Engineer, B.S. candidate
Gina Kibler, Environ Studies/Geog, B.A. candidate
Alice Wood, Environmental Studies, M.A. candidate

Reports

Site Characterization I
Site Characterization II 
Design Alternatives

Presentations

Site Characterization
Design Alternatives
Final Design

• EPA Region 8 Superfund Listing
• EPA Listing Press Release
• Federal Register Site Narrative

From Boulder, take 28th Street or Broadway north.  Broadway merges into Rt. 36 and 28th Street turns into Rt. 36.  Continue north on Rt. 36 toward Lyons.  About 4-5 miles north of Boulder, turn left (west) onto Lefthand Canyon Drive toward Ward and Jamestown.  About 5 miles up Lefthand Canyon Drive, bear left toward Ward (remaining on Lefthand Canyon Drive).  Continue west about 10 miles to the intersection with Sawmill Road and California Gulch Road (both gravel roads) and follow the directions on the map at right.

A 4wd vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended for driving all the way to the Big Five/Captain Jack site.

Map: Lefthand Canyon to Big Five/Captain Jack