Bioaccumulation of Mercury by Fish and Fish-forage Organisms in Camp Far West Reservoir, Yuba and Placer Counties, California

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC, Seattle) | Format: URL

wfrc.usgs.gov — Mercury contamination from historic gold mining operations is widespread in many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. A multidisciplinary investigation by USGS is attempting to better understand mercury dynamics and to identify hot spots within Camp Far West Reservoir in order to determine if remediation More... Mercury contamination from historic gold mining operations is widespread in many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. A multidisciplinary investigation by USGS is attempting to better understand mercury dynamics and to identify hot spots within Camp Far West Reservoir in order to determine if remediation efforts can reduce risks to aquatic biota and humans (USGS 2001). The present study, which is part of the multidisciplinary investigation, will examine several ecological variables that could influence or control the amount of mercury bioaccumulated by fish. Less...