Lake, CO

Moderate Risk (33/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Lake in Colorado · Population: 7,411

TRI sites such as Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax Mine; SDWIS systems such as PARKVILLE WD; MOUNTAIN VALLEY ESTATES; MT ELBERT WA; NPL sites such as California Gulch anchor Lake, CO's EPA extract. Derived burden score 33/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Lake include MT ELBERT WA, while Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax Mine leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. No AQS county monitors report here.

Burden score 33/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Lake -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Lake, CO: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+4.1%

1 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+4.1%

2.8 million lb → 2.9 million lb, every facility that filed

  • Lake, CO's total reported releases rose from 2.8 million lb in 2022 to 2.9 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lake, CO's off-site transfers rose from 0 lb in 2022 to 247 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lake, CO's land releases rose from 2.8 million lb in 2022 to 2.9 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lake, CO's air releases fell from 1.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
7,411
TRI Facilities
1
Water Systems
3
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
12.5M lbs

Water Systems (3)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
PARKVILLE WD 7,500 0
MOUNTAIN VALLEY ESTATES 200 0
MT ELBERT WA 170 1

TRI Facilities (1)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax Mine 12.5M lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
California Gulch NPL Site 55.84

Cities in Lake (2)

Climax
1 facilities · 0 water
Leadville
0 facilities · 3 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Lake, Colorado?
Lake, CO has an environmental risk score of 33/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 1 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 3 water systems on record. 1 water system have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Lake?
Yes, Lake, CO has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Lake?
Lake, CO has 1 TRI-reporting facility on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 12.5M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Lake?
Air quality monitoring data (EPA AQS) is not available for Lake, CO. This may indicate no EPA monitoring stations are located in the county. For regional air quality data, see the state environmental profile or visit EPA's AirNow.gov.
Is the drinking water safe in Lake?
Lake, CO has 3 EPA-regulated water systems. 1 system has reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Lake?
Environmental compliance in Lake, Colorado is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Colorado state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro