The following was recently posted In a comment to DRMS opposing the permitting of Zephyr's application for a gold mine including pics showing how the mine tailings and the associated chemicals could (will? end up in Grape Creek, gravity always wins, eventually.)  

"The proposed mine lies within the watershed of Grape Creek. Drainage from Dawson Mountain runs through the middle of the proposed mining facility and into an existing wash that empties into Grape Creek, 2.5 miles away. A heavy rain event could wash contaminants from the mining site into Grape Creek. Roughly one mile downstream from this point, Grape Creek enters the Arkansas River. One-half a mile further downstream is the City of Cañon City Water Department (CCWD) water intake.
One of our typical, localized heavy rain events could wash contaminants from the mining site into Grape Creek. This is one of the reasons we strongly oppose the mining application. We respectfully request that
this permit application should be denied with no deliberation."

Comments can be found at:  https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/search.aspx after adding the permit #M2021046