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The Problem In order to fully integrate the effects of poor water quality on ESA recovery planning, we will need to (1) identify locations of known and suspected water pollution and (2) be able to ascribe some level of risk
Objectives The objective of this project is to compile existing information into a format that will allow endangered species recovery planners to consider risks posed by various sources and types of water pollution. Identification of sources of pollution should include point- and nonpoint-sources. It is unlikely that all sources of pollution in all water bodies within the Willamette and Lower Columbia River evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) are known, but reasonable extrapolations can be accomplished by determining classes of pollution likely to result from various land use practices. The most difficult task in this project will be ascribing some level of risk posed by contaminants to salmon. It is clear that depression of salmonid populations is not driven soley by direct mortality, but also loss or degradation of habitat-including contaminants in the water. Conventional water quality standards are generally based on the concentrations of compounds that cause mortality; however, this ignores the developing body of knowledge about sublethal effects such as endocrine disruption, immunosuppression, and synergistic interactions among compounds. We will be working with ecotoxicologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service to develop an appropriate way to portray risk in our GIS. Methodology We will query local, state and federal agencies to obtain extant data on water quality in the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers. Appropriate data will be adapted to, and become part of our GIS, which will include surface water and fish distribution layers. The Ecotoxicology group of the National Marine Fisheries Service (Seattle) will provide us with estimates of risk, based on a review of available literature. This information will be converted into GIS layers to allow visualization of areas of risk.
Highlights and Key Findings In 2001, we completed an analysis of resources available. Data for the GIS layers will be of three types: (1) existing GIS layers that can be downloaded to the GIS platform with minimal effort (e.g., data from the EPA); (2) digital datasets that can be converted to GIS layers (e.g., USGS, Water Resources data on Willamette River water quality studies), and (3) analog data that will require considerable effort to adapt to GIS format. We submitted a report to the funding agency describing what will be required to complete the project. Where Are We Headed In 2003 During FY2003 we will (1) Collect available data on known sources of pollution (e.g., NDPES, 303d listed streams, research and monitoring reports) and convert them to GIS layers; (2) collect available data on specific compounds identified in water, sediment, or fish tissues and convert to GIS layers; (3) identify specific locations of point-source pollution (e.g., sewage treatment plants, pulp mills); (4) determine classes of chemical contaminants associated with various land-use practices, and the level of those compounds likely to enter aquatic habitats containing Pacific salmon at various life stages; (5) convert or adapt all data into GIS layers added to the basic platform and ensure that these are compatible with other GIS-based products available for recovery planning. Project Contact Alec Maule or James Hatten Email: alec_maule@usgs.gov Publications |
