Dames & Moore, 1999 - USDA Forest Service

2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION
The Holden Mine is an inactive copper, zinc, and silver mine located within the Wenatchee National Forest
in north-central Washington State (Figures 2.1- l and 2.1-2). The Site is situated within the Cascade
Mountain Range approximately seven miles east of the Cascade crest. The mine was developed along
Railroad Creek approximately 11 miles upstream fiom the creek's outlet at Lake Chelan. Physical access to
the Site is provided by a gravel road from Lucerne, on Lake Chelan. Access to Lucerne is provided by
commercial boats fiom the community of Chelan and Field's Point Landing, and float planes.
The underground mine was developed south of Railroad Creek; access was provided,by a number of tunnels
completed in the valley walls above the creek. A large portion of the mine-related facilities and associated
hilings are situated near the floor of the steepsided glacial valley, between the underground mine and
Railroad Creek, at elevations ranging between 3,200 and.3,400 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The
geology of the Site can be summarized as a glacial valley carved into bedrock in which the valley bottom
and lower sidewalls have been covered with soil of glacial origin and deposits reworked by Railroad Creek.
The tailings and waste rock piles were placed atop the glacial soil and alluvium. Groundwater is found
perched within the glacial reworked deposits and tailings materials.
The tailings include three piles (tailings piles 1,2, and 3) which together encompass approximately 90 acres
(Figure 2.1-3) (ORB, 1975). The patented mining claims include two mill-site claims in the immediate area
of the now abandoned mill facility, and 13 claims to the south, southwest, and west of the mill facility in
which the ore body is located (not all of the claims are shown on Figure 2.1-3).
The Glacier Peak Wilderness generally bounds the Site to the west and south (Figure 2.1-2). Holden Village
is situated immediately to the north of Railroad Creek, which generally bounds the mine property to the
north. The downstream portion of the Railroad Creek watershed and Lake Chelan are east of the Site.
Miscellaneous maintenance facilities associated with the village operations, as well as a mine-related
museum, are located between the mill facility and Railroad Creek.
2.2 HISTORY OF SITE AND SURROUNDING A R~A
2.2.1 Lake Chelan Basin
The Lake Chelan Basin has been documented to have been explored by non-native Americans in the early
1800s (Figure 2.1-1). The community of Chelan was established near the southernmost end of Lake Chelan
in the mid-1800s. Commercial steamboat access up and down the lake from Chelan was started in 1889.
During the 1900s, the northern portion of the basin was utilized mostly by inhabitants of Stehekin, as well as
tourists, for hunting and fishing. Small farms and orchards were also established in the lower reach of the
Stehekin River valley (Darvill, 1996).
Mining exploration of the area has been documented to have been initiated as early as 1875. Mineral claims
were staked throughout the Stehekin River Valley and along the shores of Lake Chelan. Mine explorations,
mostly shallow adits and other similar workings, were developed throughout the Stehekin River watershed.
However, the difficulties of conveying the ore from mine to railroad, in conjunction with the relatively low
G:\wpdaoUK)5hpom\holdcn-2\riU-O.doc 2- 1 DAMES & MOORE
17693-005-OI9Uuly 19. 1999;2:22 PM;DRAFT FINAL RI REPORT