My Favorite Project: Bonita Peak Mining District Annual Bulkhead Inspection

Early in an engineer’s career, certain projects leave a lasting impression. For Austin Burdette, Staff Engineer, the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund Site has been one of those experiences – combining field work, problem-solving, and environmental responsibility.

A Project Rooted in Environmental Protection

Located in San Juan County, CO, the Bonita Peak Mining District includes numerous historical mines that were shut down decades ago. While mining operations ended, drainage tunnels continued to discharge water to the surface – often acidic and metal-laden – causing long-term environmental damage.

The goal of the annual bulkhead inspection is to ensure that existing bulkheads are functioning as designed. These inspections document conditions from the mine portal to the bulkhead, monitor changes over time, and confirm that safe access to the bulkheads is maintained.

Schnabel’s work on this project is led by Morley Beckman, Mining Market Pursuit Director out of the Longmont office.

Why This Project Is Unique

What sets this project apart is its scale and history. A total of 17 bulkheads has been constructed across the site, with the first installed in 1994. Each year, the inspections contribute to a long-term effort focused on environmental restoration across a district filled with legacy mining infrastructure.

Solving Challenges Underground

Working in historical mines presents unique challenges, particularly when records are incomplete or nonexistent. In 2025, two new mines were added to the annual inspection program with little background information available.

To navigate this challenge, the team relied on a combination of historical claim maps and hands-on field investigation. While maps provided some insight, it was the in-person work –collecting measurements inside the adits beyond the portal—that ultimately provided the most valuable information.

“This project really shows that historical data can be helpful,” Austin notes, “but in-person, hands-on experience is invaluable.”

Lasting Community and Environmental Impact

Bulkheads play a critical role in reducing environmental harm. By sealing drainage tunnels, they help restore groundwater levels closer to pre-mining conditions and reduce oxidation of metals that leads to acidic discharge. The annual inspections ensure these systems continue to perform as intended and identify any remedial actions needed to protect surrounding waterways and ecosystems.

Learning Lessons That Shape a Career

For Austin, the project has been an important reminder early in his career that engineering solutions don’t always behave as expected in the real world.

“This project constantly reminds me that theoretical solutions cannot always be assumed to work in physical applications,” he says. “Learning from the moments where things don’t go as planned is what builds the experience needed to create successful solutions.”

Through projects like Bonita Peak, Schnabel engineers are not only preserving critical infrastructure but also restoring environments – and gaining lessons that last well beyond the job site.