Over a summer holiday weekend, samples of Clear Creek showed a temporary increase in bacteria from human intestines during periods of high tubing activity, as revealed by a recent study. Researchers from Colorado School of Mines and Johns Hopkins University collected samples from Clear Creek in Golden, comparing them to an upstream location with less tubing activity. Along with the rise in bacteria, they also discovered higher levels of metals like lead suspended in the water.
The study, initially reported by Denver 7, linked the surge in metals to human activity disturbing the creek bed where remnants from Colorado’s mining era had settled. The presence of intestinal bacteria indicates that some tubers may have been using the creek as a restroom.
However, the researchers noted that these spikes in bacteria rapidly dissipated after a busy weekend. They did not examine the impact on plant or animal life in the creek.
