Turning Hazards to Habitat: Reclamation of Surface Coal Mines on the Western Slope of Colorado
28 – 30 September 2025
Thank you for joining us for the 2025 Field Tour! We hope you’ll join us again next year.
Northwest Colorado mining companies have been doing reclamation since the early-mid 1970’s. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental impacts of coal mining in the United States. With the passage of SMCRA, coal mine operators have been required to minimize the environmental effects of mining and the large-scale land disturbances associated with strip mining operations.
On this field trip, attendees viewed 5 decades of reclamation success at several of the most awarded coal mining operations in the country. Attendees left Denver and traveled on vans to Colorado mines located near Hayden, Craig and Meeker. Attendees viewed Peabody mining operation on day one and Trapper and Colowyo Coal operation on day two.
Photos from the Tour
Thank you, Cynthia Brown, for the photos! Click on the image below to advance through the photo gallery using the arrows.
