San Juan River waters return to normal, questions remain about long-term impact of mine water leak

After a flurry of fears and festering frustration at a federal agency, life appears to have returned to normal along the San Juan River in San Juan County.
However, it is still unknown what will be the long-term impact of a mine accident that may have temporarily contaminated the river.
On August 5, workers for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accidentally released a plume of more than 3,000,000 gallons of contaminated water from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, CO.
It took several days for the water to flow through Cement Creek and the Animas River, before it entered the San Juan River River near Farmington NM.
By the time the contaminated plume of water reached San Juan County, UT on August 10, there was little visual or chemical evidence that it ever existed.
The bright orange color of the contaminated water had dissipated and ph readings of the river water were unchanged from normal levels.
“The best solution to pollution is dissolution,” said a member of the Bluff Water Works board, which provides drinking water to the community.
Not knowing what the impacts would be, the State of Utah and the Navajo Nation declared an emergency and directed state and tribal agencies to utilize all resources available to help local communities affected by the disaster.
Community water systems were placed under survellience and restrictions were placed on the use of local wells and river water. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) saved several hundred thousand gallons of treated water in an attempt to secure drinking water until the situation changed. In addition, the water systems in Bluff and Mexican Hat were monitoring the situation.
The State of Utah carefully measured the water quality in the San Juan River. They report that the levels of six contaminants initially exceeded screening values, but added that exposure to the contaminants… are not expected to result in adverse health effects for people recreating in the waters.
The contaminants include aluminum, arsenic, barium, copper, iron, lead, and manganese.
By August 15, the Utah Department of Agriculture lifted any advisories against using San Juan River water for crop irrigation and livestock watering
River running companies report that they had a number of cancellations as result of the issue, with the bulk of the business apparently moving to the Colorado River near Moab.
Lodging and restaurant properties have been crowded overflowing in San Juan County in recent weeks, including a large number of French and Italian tourists.
Since the lodging properties are booked months in advance, there were few reports of cancellations. However, tourism businesses are concerned about the long term impact of the mine spill.
Local state and federal agencies combined to provide emergency drinking water and other assistance to local residents impacted by the close of the river.
A major part of the story has to do with relationship between EPA and state and local agencies. The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Utah, in particular, expressed frustration and anger at the U.S. EPA.