2022 SJMRC- Ouray Reconnect & Reboot Conference

THEME: Reconnect & Reboot

A mine reclamation meetup in Ouray, organized by the San Juan Mining & Reclamation Conference Committee. 

Join mining, reclamation, and water science professionals, researchers, analysts, educators, policymakers, and regulators from September 29th to 30th in Ouray, Colorado to reconnect and reboot. This two-day Meetup is a unique opportunity for exploration and knowledge sharing that energizes relationships and planning for projects and partnerships benefiting watersheds around the San Juan Mountains. As a change of pace from previous conferences, this Meetup will offer a low-key, casual event, receptions, and field tours that emphasize networking and time to reconnect with experts, the mining industry, and community partners. The event will have the maximum amount of time for social interaction and relationship building by offering more mixers and receptions with fewer presentations.

This year's Keynote Talk, to be held during the Thursday evening reception, will be given by John Sabraw. John is a hybrid scientist, artist, and professor at the University of Ohio. John is collaborating with engineers and watershed specialists to develop a process that intercepts pollution, extracts heavy metals as iron oxides, and turns it into commercially-available pigments and paints. John is an activist and artist, whose paintings, drawings, and collaborative installations are produced in an eco-conscious manner as he continually works toward a fully sustainable practice. In collaboration with scientists, one of his current projects involves creating paint and paintings from iron oxide pigments extracted in the process of remediating coal mine polluted streams and rivers. 

EVENTS SCHEDULE: 

Thursday, Sept. 29th - Open House at historic Ouray location, Technology Pitch Event, Reception and Keynote at Wright Opera House in Ouray, Colorado

2:30 p.m. Open House at two historic Ouray locations

4:30 p.m. Break 

5:30 p.m. Doors and reception open at Wright Opera House Theater and Tavern 

7-8:30 p.m. Innovation Updates & Keynote Talk by Artist & Mine Waste Recycler John Sabraw

8:30-9:30 p.m. Reception continues at Wright Tavern (optional)

The Open House and Technology Pitch Event are free to attend while tickets for the reception are $30. Tickets for Thursday's program are separate from the Friday tour sessions. 

Friday, Sept. 30th - Tour Sessions to Mining and Reclamation Project Sites*

Tours will showcase projects near the town of Ouray, Colorado visiting Camp Bird Road and Red Mountain Pass areas highlighting current and recently completed reclamation projects.  

Camp Bird Road Projects:  A tour of the Atlas Mill-Sneffels Creek restoration with guides from Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership and Trout Unlimited, and the Camp Bird Mine time-critical action project with guides from EPA and Caldera Mineral Resources​​​​​. 

Red Mountain Pass Projects:  A tour to the Red Mountain adit with Newmont and Heritage Environmental guides, the Larson Brothers and Irene mine site projects, and the Ironton town site with the U.S. Forest Service, Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety, and Trust for Land Restoration.

Tour session tickets cost $30 for each session. Participants can choose to attend morning (9:00-12:00), afternoon (1:00-4:00), and both tour options. Participants will provide their transportation to tour sites that are accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles, and carpooling is required to limit vehicle count to eight vehicles per trip.  Lunch is courtesy of North Wind for the morning tour participants.

Happy Hour will follow the tours on Friday. The first 100 registrants will get a free beer coupon from CO Boy for the happy hour on Friday.  

Visit www.mountainstudies.org/sjmrc for the full schedule, lodging room blocks, and additional information. 

Contact carly@mountainstudies.org if you have any issues with registration or would like to be put on a waitlist.

*Site tours, times, and locations are subject to change based on weather, access, and other factors.