Modern-day mining in Nederland — and what it means for Boulder’s watershed

Modern-day mining in Ned — and what it means for Boulder’s watershed May 15, 2026A gold mine near Nederland is attempting to reopen after numerous violations of Colorado’s Water Control Act. The mine’s owners also sought to expand the mine from 10 acres to 200.The final hearing on that application was set for this month. But just a few days ago, the application was withdrawn amid a sale of the mine to another company, The Mountain Ear reported.The mine sits just a few miles from Nederland, which means the Town is watching the outcome very closely. We interviewed Nederland’s Town Manager, Jonathan Cain, ahead of the planned May hearing, in collaboration with The Mountain-Ear’s Tyler Hickman.Even though the mine’s reopening has been delayed, that doesn’t mean it will never reopen. Cain believes the new owners will reapply to restart operations there. If and when they do, Nederland will also be watching. So will we: We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.For now, here’s our interview with Nederland’s Jonathan Cain. UPCOMING EVENTS:Outside Days Festival May 29-31https://outsidedays.outsideonline.com/Bonnie Pain at the Fox Theater May 16https://www.z2ent.com/events/detail/bonnie-paine-2026-fox