Henderson Operations

About the Program
Freeport-McMoRan has a molybdenum mine in Clear Creek County, Colorado, located approximately 50 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park. The mine is active, and the transportation of the ore that is mined covers miles of tunnels and transport. The surrounding area is forest covered mountains, some lakes and recreational areas. The project team supports conservation activities on nearly 10,000 acres of forest. Additionally, they've built a pond for native toads. The company has a dedicated environmental team that helps carry out their conservation activities. 

Practices and Impacts

• The project team is committed to a forest project that covers 9,740 acres. The team is in the process of transitioning the forest from a wood resource to a managed forest with practices such as clearing to promote growth of individuals and leaving fallen trees for nutrients.
• A nearby valley has a water feature in it. The project team has committed to clearing the water path of man-made features to increase the habitat's wildlife use potential.
• A survey found that areas on the property contained a native boreal toad species. The team designed and created a pond specific to this species to provide them with a habitat for breeding.
• The environmental project team has also committed to educating the staff at the mine about the boreal toad. All staff participate in an annual refresher course to increase their awareness of the toad's presence while working in the habitat.
• With a forest property comes a high potential for invasive species. The Henderson team focuses on nine noxious weed species that are prevalent in the area. They use directed pesticide formulas and isolated spraying to prevent damage to other local species.