Authorities in southwestern Colorado said on Friday it was safe for people to once again kayak and raft along a stretch of river that was fouled by toxic waste from an abandoned mine more than a week ago.
A roughly 45-mile portion of the Animas River running through La Plata County, Colorado, to the New Mexico border was reopened to recreation by order of the county sheriff. The order included the city of Durango, a resort town popular for its outdoor water sports.
Water samples tested by the state Department of Public Health and Environment showed levels of contamination had fallen "below what would be a concern for human health during typical recreational exposure," the sheriff said in a statement.