Life Sciences Commons^™

Trace Element Concentrations In Flue Gas Desulfurlzation Wastewater From The Jim Bridger Power Plant, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

The coal-fired Jim Bridger Power Plant near Rock springs, Wyoming uses soda liquor from nearby trona (soda ash) processing plants to neutralize the acidity of water used in their flue scrubbers. Analyses of this Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) liquor by Western Wyoming College Water Quality Laboratory shows high concentrations of sodium, chloride, sulfates, carbonates and bicarbonates. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had samples of the FGD wastewater analyzed for sodium, chloride, sulfates, carbonates and bicarbonates as well as trace metals. Trace metals were not present in concentrations known to pose adverse impacts to wildlife. Sodium concentrations, however, were excessively …

Trace Elements In Water, Sediments And Biota From Wetlands In The Laramie Basin And Their Relationship To The Recovery Of The Endangered Wyoming Toad (Bufo Hemiophrys Baxteri, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a monitoring study in 1989,1990
and 1991 to determine if trace elements occur at levels that may affect the Wyoming toad (Bufo hemiophrys baxteri), a federally-listed endangered species. The study will provide information to help the Wyoming Toad Recovery Team to select reintroduction sites and in habitat acquisition efforts. Biologists collected water, sediment, aquatic invertebrates, algae and emergent insects from Mortenson Lake, historically occupied areas and proposed reintroduction sites. No major problems are apparent with trace elements in water, sediment and biota from sites providing existing or potential habitat for the …

Mercury In Fish Collected From The Indian Lake System Stillwater Wildlife Management Area Churchill County, Nevada, Peter Tuttle

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Elevated mercury levels have been identified in water, sediments, and biota in the Carson River drainage basin, west-central, Nevada. In some instances mercury concentrations exceeded levels considered safe for fish, wildlife, and humans. Of particular concern were game fish in the lower Carson River basin which may be consumed by humans. Many of these fish have been found to contain more than 1.0 μg/g wet weight, the action level identified as safe for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA 1984) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 1989). Concern for human health promptedthe Nevada State Division of Health …

Contaminants Survey Of The Proposed Marais Des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, George T. Allen, Tom Nash

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

We sampled sediments and fish at 16 locations at the proposed Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas and Missouri.

All of the samples were analyzed for metals and organochlorine compounds. Selected sediment samples also were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons.

There are no apparent serious contaminants concerns with the proposed acquisition, with the exception of two dump sites. The former municipal dump for Pleasanton, in section 26 of Township 21S, Range 25E in Kansas has not been cleaned up. Therefore, the land it is on should be excluded from acquisition. A former dump in section 6, Township 39N, Range …

Metal Concentrations In Blood From An Adult Bald Eagle Nesting At Clinton Reservoir In Kansas, George T. Allen

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Concentrations of metals in blood from an adult male bald eagle nesting at Clinton Reservoir in eastern Kansas in 1991 were analyzed by induction coupled plasma emission spectroscopy without preconcentration.

Because there are very limited data on background levels of most metals in bald eagle blood, the data herein are provided for comparison with other samples at later dates.

Few metals were detected in the sample. The only metal detected that is not physiologically well controlled was mercury. However, the mercury concentration was low compared to concentrations found in blood from bald eagles in the western United States.

Metals And Organic Compounds In Fish And Sediments From The Missouri And Lower Kansas Rivers In Kansas In 1991, George T. Allen

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

I sampled sediments and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at two locations on the Kansas River and two locations on the Missouri River adjacent to Kansas in June 1991. All samples were analyzed for metals, organochlorine compounds, and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Sediments also were analyzed for aromatic hydrocarbons.

Concentrations of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, and lead in one or more of the sampling locations are of concern.

In the common carp composites, chlordane compound concentrations were above the level at which detrimental effects might be found at Kansas City and at Bonner Springs. However, there is probably little that can be …

Environmental Contaminants Monitoring In Selected Wetlands Of Wyoming [Biologically Active Elements Study], Pedro Ramirez Jr., Joni Armstrong

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Sediment, water and biota were collected from selected wetlands in Wyoming for the Biologically Active Elements (BAE) Study in 1988, 1989 and 1990 to identify contaminant problems that may warrant further study. This report also will assist in developing a comprehensive contaminants monitoring program for the state and will provide baseline contaminants data for wetland areas. Sites surveyed included areas affected by historical and current mining; wetlands receiving oilfield or oil refinery discharges; wetlands receiving irrigation return flows; stock ponds and natural depressions in areas with seleniferous soils and wetlands influenced by urban runoff. Monitoring is recommended for wetlands receiving …

Environmental Contaminant Surveys In Three National Wildlife Refuges In Wyoming, Pedro Ramirez Jr., Joni Armstrong

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Environmental contaminants surveys were conducted at National Elk, Seedskadee, and Hut ton Lake National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) to provide information on existing conditions to identify potential habitat quality problems, and to determine if non-point sources of pollution may be affecting the refuges. Pondweed (Potamogeton spp.) samples from Hut ton, Rush, and Cre;ghton Lakes and Lake George at Hut ton Lake NWR and Hay Farm Pond at Seedskadee NWR had boron concentrations greater than 300 ug/g dry weight, the level suspected of causing reduced growth in mallard ducklings (Eisler 1990). The source of the boron is unknown. One pondweed sample …

The Influence Of Selenium On Incubation Patterns And Nesting Success Of Waterbirds At Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Utah, Bruce H. Waddell, Mark C. Stanger

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Egg temperatures and hen attentiveness were studied from 1989-91 on nests near sites known to have high selenium concentrations in an effort to document causes for nesting failures. Temperature and light sensitive radio transmitters were used to monitor incubation patterns in American coots (Fulica americana), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwalls (Anas strepera), northern shovelers, (Anas clypeata), and redheads (Aythya americana) nests. Mean temperatures of telemetered eggs placed in incubated nests ranged from 32.6°C to 37.8°C and differed only slightly from results obtained in other studies. We found no nesting failures among …