Tó’Łítso, the Water is Yellow: Investigating short-term exposure and risk perception of Navajo communities to the Gold King Mine toxic spill

In August 2015, an estimated 3 million gallons of acid water and heavy metals spilled from the Gold King Mine into Colorado's Animas River, eventually flowing into the San Juan River, the primary source of irrigation for Navajo Nation farmers. The spill was accidentally caused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency while trying to prevent leakage of toxic materials.

Chief, a Navajo hydrologist and assistant professor in the UA Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, and Beamer, an associate professor of environmental health sciences, lead a cross-disciplinary team with plans to address tribal questions regarding the impact of the environmental disaster on their communities.

• Superfund Research Program
• Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
• Gold King Mine Spill: Diné Exposure Project
• Gold King Mine Spill: One Year Later, August 2016