The August 5 Gold King Mine spill that turned the Animas River in southwestern Colorado yellow for two days had an immediate impact on paddle sport sales, according to Tony Miely, owner of 4Corners Riversports in Durango, CO.

“River stuff, whitewater boats, kayaks and rafts have dropped completely, but lake rentals are still doing fine,” Miely told The B.O.S.S. Report. “Paddle boards have dipped a little, but are still very strong, since you can SUP at the lake.”

While highly unfortunate, Miely is hopeful the spill will force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to become more proactive in cleaning up waste left behind at dozens of abandoned mines in the region. “Long term, the reality is that these kinds of spills happen all the time and this one passed through pretty quickly,” he said.

Approximately three million gallons of heavy-metal filled wastewater entered the Animas due to the spill, which appears to have been triggered by heavy equipment during EPA supervised remediation work at the mine.  The spill subsequently spread to the San Juan River and reached into New Mexico and Utah.

At first, the spill was reported to have failed state water quality limits with 26 times higher arsenic levels than what is considered acceptable by the EPA. Lead levels were reported to be even worse. However, recent tests from the Animas show diminished toxicity, with local drinking water deemed safe.

The State Parks and Wildlife Department asserted no dead fish have been spotted along the river, while a Colorado health official reported to CNN that water near Durango “does not pose a health risk.”

Still, Miely has  begun selling off rental gear in anticipation that television coverage of the spill beamed to millions of viewers worldwide will have longer lasting effects.

“It will be a significant hit for New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, but we have worked hard to adapt, selling off rental gear early,” Miely said. He foresees the spill impacting quarterly sales, but said, “the commercial raft companies have taken the bigger grunt, with the river being closed.”