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Arizona,
Remediating Abandoned Mines Improves Water Quality in Turkey Creek
Waterbody Improved ln 1992'two reaches Of Turkey Creek were listed on Arizona's
Clean Water Act section 303(d) list as impaired for cadmium,
copper, lead and zinc. The Golden Belt and Golden Turkey mines, located on U.S. Forest Service
(USFS) land, were identified as the primary sources of pollution. In 2002, the USFS completed an
Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for the sites and completed remediation in 2007. The Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality (AZDEQ) completed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for
Turkey Creek metals in 2006 and found (using new data) that cadmium and zinc were erroneously
listed. As a result of the remediation of the Golden Belt and Golden Turkey mines, copper
concentrations have decreased 58% and lead concentrations by 80%.
Problem
Turkey Creek is an intermittent stream originating in
the Bradshaw Mountains, about 80 miles north of
Phoenix in Arizona's Middle Gila Watershed (Figure 1).
Turkey Creek is in the Prescott Mining District, which
has numerous abandoned and inactive mine sites.
Turkey Creek was initially listed as impaired in 1992
due to exceedances of total and dissolved arsenic and
copper, as well as due to total cadmium, cyanide, lead,
and mercury. After several years of data collection
and assessments, it was determined that cadmium,
cyanide, and mercury were erroneously listed in 1992;
these were removed from Turkey Creek's list of impair-
ments in 2006. Copper and lead remain the primary
contaminants in the water body.
The Golden Belt and Golden Turkey mines, located
along the banks of Turkey Creek, were identified as
the major contributors to the copper and lead impair-
ments. Elevated concentrations of copper and lead
occur when runoff flows over and erodes abandoned
tailings piles. A lead load is also originating from above
the abandoned mine sites, but it is unknown if the load
is from natural background or anthropogenic sources.
A small town and several homesteads lie within a
4-mile radius of Golden Belt and Golden Turkey mines.
Recreation is commonplace in and near Turkey Creek
and the mines.
Figure 1. Pollutant loads in the impaired section of Turkey
Creek have declined since mine land restoration occurred.
In 2006, AZDEQ completed a TMDL for Turkey Creek,
which was determined to be non-attaining due to
continued exceedances of copper and lead.
Flagstaff

GOLDEN TURKf
^ Turkey Creek Mines
	 Impaired Portion ofTurkey Creek
	Attaining Portion ofTurkey Creek

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Figure 2. Photo of site before remediation work,
Story Highlights
The USFS completed remediation on the Golden Belt
and Golden Turkey mines in 2007. Before remedia-
tion, there were approximately 190,000 cubic yards
of mine tailings and almost 54,000 cubic yards of
waste rock along Turkey Creek, The USFS moved the
contaminated mine tailings and waste rock away from
the floodplain, and these contaminated piles were
contained onsite using a variety of surface control
measures. One such measure is a cap that was con-
structed for stabilization and to prevent any further
runoff or erosion of the waste piles. Additional surface
control measures implemented in
the project area include regrading
and revegetating, establishing proper
drainage channels, minimizing runoff
erosion, and aiding in restoring
plant growth. AZDEQ has continued
effectiveness monitoring following
remediation in order to document
water quality improvements. Figures
2 and 3 show the Turkey Creek
floodplain before and after removal
of mine tailings and waste rock.
Figure 3. Photo of site after work was completed.
waste rock piles from the Turkey Creek floodplain
decreased copper and lead loads in Turkey Creek
by 58% and 80%, respectively (Figure 4). Further
water quality monitoring needs to be completed
before Turkey Creek can be removed from the state's
impaired waters list.
Partners and Funding
Results
Remediation of the Golden Belt and
Golden Turkey mines has improved
water quality in Turkey Creek.
Removing the Golden Belt and
Golden Turkey mine tailings and
The USFS was the primary party involved in remediat-
ing the Golden Belt and Golden Turkey mines along
Turkey Creek. AZDEQ has conducted effectiveness
water quality monitoring.
Total Copper and Lead Concentrations Immediately
Below the Mines in Turkey Creek Before and After Mine
Remediation
o
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£ 01
B -t
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160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

















-83%
-90%


j
Copper, total
Lead, total
i Average before remediation ¦ Average after remediation
Figure 4. Total copper and total lead levels have declined in Turkey Creek.
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35
%
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841-F-20-QQ1M
July 2020
For additional information contact:
John O. Woods
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
602-771-4471 • woods.john@azdeq.gov
Jason Sutter
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
602-771-4468 • sutter.jason@azdeq.gov

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