Selenium contamination and remediation at Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area and Ashley Creek, middle Green River basin, Utah

Fact Sheet 031-03
By: , and 

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Abstract

Selenium is an element required in trace amounts for human and animal health, but it can cause health problems for livestock, wildlife, and humans when ingested in higher-than-required concentrations. Incidences of mortality, birth defects, and reproductive failure in waterfowl were discovered at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, San Joaquin Valley, California, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1983 (Presser, 1994). These problems were attributed to elevated concentrations of selenium in irrigation drainage that discharged to the refuge. Because of concern about possible adverse effects from irrigation drainage on Department of the Interior (DOI) projects elsewhere in the United States, the DOI organized scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), USFWS, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to form the National Irrigation Water-Quality Program (NIWQP). The objectives of the program are to investigate DOI-managed lands for potential contamination related to irrigation drainage, conduct studies to identify the problems, investigate methodologies to remediate those problems, and implement remediation plans (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2002).

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Selenium contamination and remediation at Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area and Ashley Creek, middle Green River basin, Utah
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 031-03
DOI 10.3133/fs03103
Year Published 2003
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Denver, CO
Contributing office(s) Utah Water Science Center, WY-MT Water Science Center
Description 6 p.
Public Comments National Irrigation Water-Quality Program
Country United States
State Utah
Other Geospatial Ashley Creek, Middle Green River basin, Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area
Online Only (Y/N) Y
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