UT/US Study Will Probe Extent Of 55 Years Of Mine Waste Buildup In Lake Powell; Lead, Mercury, More
SALT LAKE CITY — Heavy metals washed into Lake Powell over the decades by flash floods or rivers flows will be extracted by drilling rigs probing deep into the river deltas. The sediment study will begin this month to collect historical and recent data on metal concentrations. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Geological Society, the National Park Service and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are all part of the collaborative effort.
According to the agencies, the monthlong project will extract cylindrical, long-core samples at multiple locations along the river deltas entering Lake Powell. Scientists say the cores should reveal how flash floods, historic mining in the Upper Animas River, mine remediation activities, and spring runoff affects the timing, mass and concentration of metals deposited into the lake.
"This study will help us understand whether human activities such as mining in the San Juan River watershed have impacted or pose a risk to the important recreational, aquatic life, and cultural resources of the San Juan River and Lake Powell,” said Erica Gaddis, director of the Utah Division of Water Quality. “This project is a great example of applying science to inform water resources management.”
The survey will assess the concentration and distribution of metals at Lake Powell, including arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury and lead.
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https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900043259/study-will-look-at-mining-pollution-at-lake-powell.html
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