SOLUTIONS M E R C U R Y C O N T A M I N A T I O N F R O M T H E - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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SOLUTIONS M E R C U R Y C O N T A M I N A T I O N F R O M T H E - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mar 17, 2024 161 likes •319 views

SOURCE AREAS AND SOLUTIONS M E R C U R Y C O N T A M I N A T I O N F R O M T H E G O L D R U S H Carrie Monohan Ph.D., Science Director, The Sierra Fund Special Hearing on Mercury and Abandoned Mine Lands Assembly Natural Resources

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SLIDE 1

M E R C U R Y C O N T A M I N A T I O N F R O M T H E G O L D R U S H

SOURCE AREAS AND SOLUTIONS

Carrie Monohan Ph.D., Science Director, The Sierra Fund

Special Hearing on Mercury and Abandoned Mine Lands Assembly Natural Resources Committee March 24, 2014

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SLIDE 2

Abandoned Mines in CA

(USGS Fact Sheet 2005-3014) (DOC AML Report , 2000)

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SLIDE 3

Hydraulic Mining

(USGS Fact Sheet 2005-3014)

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SLIDE 4

Hard Rock Mining

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SLIDE 5

MERCURY AND THE GOLD RUSH

Deer Creek 1908 Greenhorn Creek 2011

Mercury is entrained in the river gravels and travels long distances

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SLIDE 6

MERCURY AND FISH CONSUMPTION

(Image used with permission: SFEI FMP, 2007)

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SLIDE 7
  • 303(d) listed/TMDL

(CVRWQCB, 2010)

  • Gold County Angler

Survey (The Sierra Fund, 2011)

  • Fish Consumption

Advisories (OEHHA, 2009)

Mercury Impaired Water Bodies

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SLIDE 8

GOLD COUNTY ANGLER SURVEY

50 100 150 200

µg Methylmercury/Day Survey Participant

Methylmercury Exposure from Sport Fish Consumption

Women over 45 and Men Sensitive Populations* OEHHA Safe Level for Sensitive Populations*-assume 70 kg (154lbs)

21 µg MeHg/Day 7µg MeHg/Day

n= 215 In 130 surveys mercury exposure from fish = 0 μg MeHg/Day

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SLIDE 9

Limited Fish Consumption Advisories Mercury

SITE SPECIFIC FISH ADVISORIES

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SLIDE 10

This information applies to all lakes and reservoirs in CA without site- specific advice

(OEHHA, 2013)

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SLIDE 11
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SLIDE 12

MALAKOFF DIGGINS STATE PARK

HUMBUG CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT

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SLIDE 13

COMBIE RESERVOIR

SEDIMENT AND MERCURY ABATEMENT

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SLIDE 14

MERCURY REMOVAL FROM RESERVOIRS

Opportunities to:

  • Restore water storage

space

  • Get the mercury out
  • Reduce downstream

transport of mercury

(Minear and Kondolf, 2009)

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SLIDE 15

GET THE MERCURY OUT

Abandoned Mine Remediation

  • Prioritize source areas for remediation

Mercury removal from contaminated areas

  • Statewide Reservoir TMDL for mercury

Carrie Monohan, Ph.D. carrie.monohan@sierrafund.org

206 Sacramento St., Ste. 101