u.s. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE REGION 6 CONTAMINANTS. PROGRAM
By Pedro Ramirez, Jr. and Joni Armstrong
Prepared For U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Great Plains Region Billings. Montana April 1991 USFWS- Region 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES 11
ABSTRACT 1
INTRODUCTION 2
SITE DESCRIPTION 4
METHODS . 6
RESULTS 10
Water ° 10 Sed i ment 0, 12 Aguatic Veg~tat;on . 12
AQuatic Invertebrates 12
llih 13
RECOMMENOATIONS. 20
LITERATURE CITED 22
i USFWS- Region 6- Environmental Contaminants Report
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure I. Collection sites 8
Table I. NumberTrace elementand types concentrationsof samples collected.{mg/l){ug/g dry in water.weight) in sediments 9
Table 2. II
Table 3. 14
Table 4. Trace element concentrations {ug/g dry weight) in aquatic
vegeta t i on. 16
Table 5. Trace element concentrations in aquatic invertebrates 17
Table 6. Trace element concentrations (ug/g dry weight) in fish 18
i by Pedro Ramirez, Jr. and Joni A. Armstrong
ABSTRACT
The u. $. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) conducted a baseline inventory of trace elements at proposed mitigation sites and existing wetlands within the
Shoshone Project for the Great Plains Region of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Mitigation proposed for wetland losses attributed to the Shoshone Rehabilitation and Betterment Project consists of wetland creation or enhancement within the project area. The quality of irrigation drainage and its effects on fish and wildlife are potential concerns with the existing project. The two sediment
samples collected from a large alkali flat near Deaver Reservoir had elevated
selenium concentrations (12 and 13 ug/g dry weight). The two aquatic
invertebrate samples collected from Eaglenest Creek contained elevated selenium
concentrations (5.3 and 10 ug/g dry weight). One of two algae samples from
Eaglenest Creek contained 2.9 ug/g dry weight selenium. Dietary selenium
concentrations greater than 3 ug/g can cause reproductive impairment in aquatic
birds (Lemly and Smith, 1987).
1 USFVS- Region 6 -Environmental Contaminants Re~ort
INTRODUCTION
The u.s. Bureau of Reclamation's (Bureau) Shoshone Rehabilitation and Betterment
Program consists of proposed modifications to existing diversion dams and lateral canals in the Shoshone Irrigation Project, Park and Bighorn counties, Wyoming . The proposed modifications could result in the loss of about 400 acres h.igh " " quality -grassland habitat and.could impact up to 565 acres of wetland habitat ., c Bureau of Reclamation,-1990).. Mitigation proposed for ""t"hes~'1osses (u.s.. .. includes: construction of shal1o~ ~ater impoundments either.at iaglenes"{Cree1t or Buck Creek or at a large a1kali flat near Deiver Re'servoir. Existing wetland , :. , ' ,. '. ; , " -~ seep areas are proposed for enhancement by creating open water areas in or riea"r the seeps
The qual ity of irri.gation drainage and ts effects on fish and wildlife 'are '- --." .-'- -"-- potent~al concerns within the Shoshone Project. :seleni'um," an"element req'ui-red
, -.;,'-~:- .f..- """ "~'.}":';':'?'c,;',ei,;.!!'.:,;:r,\, In trace quantlt1es for anlmal nutrition, can cause problems for wildlife wtien
.-.,;":!'c--,,-.,'., ", '~.',.'"..,"- ingested at slightly higher concentrations.- Selenium is present in many sediment c',~:,: ,: fFi'),:';;".--".'.c""-, ,.,c- ,!'"i-',-,"" c deposits and in arid alkall:ne soils typically found ini~ewestern United 'States. ': ,;. " ! , " i " ". ,. , : , ,
Mobilization or release of selenium from the soil :can occur throufJhirrigation
and it can reach levels hazardous to fish and wildlife. Cody Shale is a source
of selenium and has been linked to elevated selenium concentrations in the food
chain at the Kendrick Reclamation Project in Natrona County, Wyoming. Cody Shale
also occurs in the Heart Mountain and Frannie Divisions of the Shoshone Project.
Selenium concentrations in drainwater samples collected by the Bureau in April
1990 ranged from 2 to 5 ug/l (ppb)(0.002 to 0.005 mg/l or ppm). Concentrations J in water above 2 to 5 ug/l selenium may bioaccumuJate , iin the food chain and
2 USFWS -Region .- 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort
adversely affect fish and wildlife (Lemly and Smith, 1987). In addition, the
Bureau collected a water sample from Eaglenest Drain that contained 30 ug/l mercury. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) acute criterion for
freshwater aquatic life states that concentrations are not to exceed 2.4 ug/l
mercury at anyone time {U. $. EPA, 1980).
The Bureau funded this baseline inventory of trace elements at proposed
mitigation sites ar.d existing wetlands within the Shoshone Project
The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine selenium and other trace
element COf1centrati ons in soils or sediments, aquatic vegetation, aquatic
i nver-r.ebrates and fi sh found in existing wetlands within the Shoshone Project
and in proposed mitigation sites; and (2) evaluate selenium arid other trace
element concentrations in subsurface drain waters previously found to contain
elevated selenium and mercury concentrations
3 USFVS -Regi on !6 -Invi,.onmenta 1 Contami nants'ReRo'.t.-
SITE DESCRIPTION
The Shoshone Project is near the city of Cody, in Park and Big Horn Counties of
northwestern Wyoming {Figure 1). Buffalo Bill Reservoir {located approxima-tely
six miles upstream from Cody), stores high flows of the Shoshone River for later
release to generate power and provi!de irrigation for the Shoshone Project. Four
irrigation districts distribute water to about 93,450 acres. The irrigation
project includes two diversion dams, approximately 140 miles of tunnels and
.canals, 564.miles of distribution laterals and 673 miles of drains. The canals
and lateral's include many concrete control structures. Some sections of the
canals and laterals are lined or in buried pipe; but most of the system consists
of unlined open channels.
The Shoshone Project provide;$ irrigation water for croplands and pasture. Alfalfa and barley are the primary crops, -h-owever sugar beets and dry beans are
also grown. Corn, oats, wheat, other -hay, s11age, vegetable and seed crops
rep"'esent less tha'n 3 perc2nt of i rri gab le 1 ands . The Shoshone Project includes
,approxi'mately 55'6 farms over 40 acres in size. The average farm size is 200
;acres . Soils within the Shoshone Project are highly variable, but generally
consist of two major types. The northeastern project area contains primarily
resi,dual 'soils underlain by shale and sandstone that contain moderate 'to
-exc'e"S'S'i"v'e" 'amoU11t'S='o'f~'So~rub1.e- 'sal'ts. Cody, Thermopo1-; s and Mowry Sha1 es are
located in the Frannie and Heart Mountain Divisions. The remaining project area
cont:ain-s modified all.uvial soils underlain by gravel deposits.
,The Shoshone River and open drains within the Shoshone Project,provide waterf-owl
habitat. Newton lakes and Ra1 ston and Deaver reservoirs al sb~provi,de exce 11ent
4
,\~~( ~ USEWS--Region 6 -Environm.entalContaminants ReRort waterfowl habitat. Ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and other aquatic birds use these areas for migration and breeding habitat. Smaller wetlands provide habitat for aquatic birds where water seeps or leaks from unlined canals
The Shoshone River supports a variety of,cold-water fish. Premium trout fishery waters occur in the upper reaches of the Shoshone River from Buffalo Bill Dam to
Willwood Dam, and important trout fishery ,waters occur in the lower reaches according to the 1987 Wyoming Trout Stream Classification Map. Sport species in these reaches include rainbow trout (Oncorh~nchus m~kiss), cutthroat trout (0. clarkii)~ brown trout (~ trutta), mackinaw (Salvelinus nama~cush), mountain whitefish (Proso~ium williamsoni , yellow perch (~ flavescens) and channel catfish (Ictalurus ~unctatus). Non-game species such ;as the longnose sucker
(Catostomus), white .sucker (Catostomus commersQni), mountain sucker (Catostomus glat~rh~nchus), northern redhorse (MoxQstoma macrQ}epidotum), long-nose dace
{Rhinichthy:s cataractae), green sunfish (.Lepomis c~anellus), fathead minnow
(Pimegha]us gromelas) and flathead chubs (H~bogsis gracilis) are present. Iron
Creek,,~lkali Creek, Bitter Creek and Eaglenest Creek are the main tributaries of,th~ Shoshone River within the study area used by spawning trout. Deaver
Reservoir also contains a quality trout and bass (Micropterus ~. fi shery .
'!1 jt.ri.~::!-.j ffi.~
5 METHODS
Service personnel collected samples from 29-31 August 1990 with assist~nce frq~
Fred Wambeke of the Deaver lrrigati,on District (Figure I and Table 1). Water
samples were collected from subsurface drain outlets and from the ,surface at all
other sites. Water samples were acidified with nitric acid to a pH of
approximately 2.0 and stored in polyethylene jars. Sediment samples wer-e
collected with stainles-s steel ute1:1sils and sto~ed in Whirl-pak bags. Aquatit:
vegetati on Wi'S picked by hand and stored in Whirl-pak bags. Aquatic iTIver't'ebra;tes were collected from reservoi rs with light traps simll ar to those
described by E.:Spin~lS.aa!Od-Cl~rk {1972,) , and from streams with a stainless stee~~
screen and forceps. A-qu'ati':t Fi sh were
bottom f~eders 'i{c!Whl~ ,~ree:k. AU.jlsho~;; .' .", :., ;.:~:c except 'minno.ws .were ..r,a... ld,v;ad.i;I3~l1Q"" ~~-~:el..um1iRIm\'fooi"4n'd
composited ,ifloW 'pTa;sti'Cc'~q.s ..M1fl~;0.~~ were
S.ediment and biota sampl es were refrigerated at 2:0. £ for l,ess than :24 'hours
bef~ref;reezing.
. Samples were submitted to Environmental Trace Substances ResearchrCenter ;in
Columbia; Mi~r4, ~or- trace residue analys,es. Reference soil and water samples
were submitted to evaluate laboratory Quality control. Nitric-percholoric digestioncwas used for arsenic and selenium analyses and nitric refl.ux digestion
for mercury analysis. The la;boratory used atomic absorption spectroscopy by
hydride generation to quantify ar.sep.ic and sel--enium residues and btcold vapor
:$
~ USFWS -Region 6- Environmental Contaminants Report
reduction to determine mercury residues. Dir-ect inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy was conducted without preconcentration for a scan of other trace elements. The precision and accuracy of the laboratory analyses were confirmed with procedural blanks, duplicate analyses, test recoveries of spiked materials, and reference material analyses
7 USFWS -Region 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort
Figure 1. Collectioll sites 1or the srloshone R & B race element study
8 USFWS -Region 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort
Table I. Number and types of samples collected at or near proposed mitigation sites for the Shoshone Rehabilitation and Betterment Project, Park and Bighorn counties, Wyoming.
Matrix
ill.e Water Sediment Aquatic Aquatic ilsh
Vegetation Invertebrates
Deaver Irrigation District
Wagner Drain J
Weber Drain
Deaver Alkali Flat 2
Deaver Canal Seep 2
Deaver Reservoir 1 2 2 2
Heart Mountain Irrigation District
Eaglenest Drain 1
Eaglenest Creek 1 2 2 2 2
Buck Creek 1 2
Ralston Reservoir 2 2 2 2
Garland Irrigation District
Frannie Canal Seep 2
9 USFWS- Region 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort
RESULTS Water
All concentrations of trace elements in water except iron were below the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's ([PA) criteria for the protection of freshwater aquatic life (Table 2). Iron concentrations in water collected from Eaglenest
Creek, Eaglenest Drain and Buck Creek were above the 1 mg/l criteria established by the EPA for the protection of freshwater aquatic life (U.S. EPA, 1986). No criterion has been developed for phosphorus, but it was present in waters from . Wagner Drain, Eaglenest Creek and Eaglenest Drain at concentrations known to stimulate excessive or nuisance growths of algae and other aquatic plants (>O.O25 mg/l)(U.S. EPA, 1986). Selenium concentrations in water collected from the
Eaglenest, Wagner and Weber drains were elevated (>0.002 mg/l). Selenium concentrations greater than 0.002 to 0.005 mg/l in water can be bioconcentrated in food chains and cause toxicity and reproductive failure in fish (Lemly and
Smith, 1987).
10 Q) ..c ~
'- 0 '+-
~ Q) ~
~
c o
~ IU C1 ..- ~
E
~ . oot"oot"oot"oot"oot"oot" Q)C1 ..- 000000 ~C co 0Q.E OMN q-q- 000000 -~~ Lt')o "r- NOq-,...oq- VVVVV\,. Lt')O\oN-\O 1-- 000 00 00 c 000-00 '->, ' ' ' ' ' r... ~ 000000 Q.3 000000 000000 Q) OO00r..)0 IU'- ~ co 000000 \DNNN - Lr>NO)Lr>O)q- (1)~ (1) 000000 0\ \D"""' \D \D M C ..- $.. O"I-, q-NN VVVVVV 0) V> '-~ ~ CX)"""'OOO"""' Nq-OOOO Lt')' 0.~~o \O~MN- oC ~ ('I") N M 1.0 N oot" fU 000000 \0\0\0\0\0\0 ~O CJ IUU N c 000000 000000 NMONNr\o\oN--O (.I) ~C 000000 Q)'- 000000 VVVVVV ~O \0 -J u..C ~~M~\ON 000000 ~N\00MO Q)C1 Lr)M-OOO ~Nt \0~ CX) 1.1') ..-~ ..- 000000 ooq-q-om Lr)~t ~M~ o~ ~ --NNN- Uc -CX)ONLn~ ,...Lt')oft"oft"oft"oft" r-- ,-IU LnLnCX)~NM .0 000000 « 00 (.I) Q)~ OO-LnOM -0'1\0..'. LJ')00 000000 -+-',- Q) LJ')OO'IO'INf'-.. VVVV IUIU u. ~o.. OO-LJ')ON ..;t"..;t"..;t"..;t"..;t"..;t" C .c 000000 ~ C) 000000 Coo +"
Selenium concentrations in sediments collected from the Deaver Alkali Flat site
(Table 3) were elevated well above the 4 ug/g dry weight concentration in
sediment that can be bioconcentrated in food chains and cause toxicity and reproductive failure in fish and aquatic birds (Lemly and Smith, 1987). All other trace elements were present at levels below detection or below concentrations suspected of causing adverse effects to the food chain
AQuatic Vegetation
Pondweed (Potamogeton ~.) was collected from Deaver and Ralston reservoirs and
algae was collected from Eaglenest Creek. Submerged aquatic vegetation was not
present at the other proposed mitigation sites. The selenium concentration in
an algae sample collected from Eaglenest Creek approached the 3 ug/g dry weight
dietary threshold considered adverse to aquatic birds by Lemly and Smith (1987)
:Table 4). The boron concentration in pondweed collected from Deaver Reservoir
approached the 300 ug/g dry weight dietary threshold considered adverse to
aquatic birds {Eisler, 1990). Al other trace element concentrations were below
those suspected of causing adverse effects to the food chain
AQuatic Invertebrates
Waterboatmen (Family Corixidae) and dragonfly nymphs (Family Odonata) were
collected at Ralston Reservoir and Eaglenest Creek and had selenium
concentrations exceeding the 3 ug/g dietary threshold suspected of causing
adverse reproductive effects to aquatic birds (Table 5}(Lemly and Smith, 1987}.
All other trace elements were present at levels below detection or below
concentrations suspected of causing adverse effects to the food chain.
12 USFWS- Region 6- Environmental Contaminants ReRort llih
Deaver and Ralston reservoirs and Eaglenest Creek were the only proposed
mitigation sites inhabited by fish. White suckers and green sunfish were
collected from Deaver Reservoir. White suckers and fathead minnows were
collected from Ralston Reservoir. White suckers were collected from Eaglenest
Creek. Fish collected from the proposed mitigation sites did not contain
elevated concentrations of trace elements Table 6)
13 "" Qj ~
""
c o
~ tU C)
~
e
"0 . QjC) ""C 0..- C.E 00 S...>, C.3
e " o~ .qo~~~~.qo~~.qo.qo~.qo~.qo S...w ~ VVVVV\'VVVVVVVV 4- ..- \OOO\N\OOO'...O\O(W')OO~O c:: N~LnOONN~NOOOOr-..N-- "Oof.1 ~ ~~(W')~--NNNNLnO~(W') QjC -o-c.:.~CX)N\or-MNO-Ll)Ll)Ll)Ll)Ncn MNCX)O , - ~~ (1) UO ~ QjU O-O~OO--OOOO-O ..-C 00000000000000 .-~ 0') 0OOOI.0&.n0\-NO\-0\00\ 00 'O:t" ~ 0)&.nO)M&.nI.0N00:1"&.n00-NO) U.c O--NMMo\o\r O)00:1"00:1"-O\ tU \OLn' Or-,oooooO\OI.0OLn'O:t" ""C) ~ MN'O:t"I.0'O:t"N' ' NOOLnNO\O ~..- N-N N- ~CC \DM~~N ,... ~ QJ"0 e C ..- Lt")O-M~~\oO\o\OOO~'-~~~ ~- -I "O/U Qj : ~ N~-NNNM("')~Ll')~("')O~ ""~ VV--V N -/U 00000000000000 ~ °"'OMO~000000-0 .~o. IONCX)r--.oIONIO00:1"-NIONq- 00000000000000 Nq-M00:1"- MMNNN-In('f') -" ..- O000r-lCO000-o:t"OO ~of.1 -Mvv\OOO\O~M\Or-~\J:)- ..cU ~ ...,W U")VLnOOMN\O~NN~CX)OOr- 00000000000000 C'I. -N-- N--- N- 00001.n~00000000 ..- QJ -MOa:J--LnOLno\M-''-N-- ,...'MLnLn~O--
C'lw MNO(")(X)-MMN--N-r-.. =of.1 13) -of.1 (I) OON(")O-OOOOOO-O LnN Q) --V . ""~ ~ LnOIl')r-..r-..LnO~0\~N-~- C u N~-- NN N 0"0 C 0+-)/U --0)0 O~ I.O~ 0'0 I.O~ 1t')Ll') tU ~ NNO-N~N~--NNNN ~M~MMLnM~~MM~~~ s...C ~ 00000000000000 '0 0+-)0 u 00000000000000 C..- 00000000000000 VV VV VV Qjof.1 u/U Cof.1 o\O-O~Lt)~Lt)~~t")-, Lt) 0..- VI 00000000000000 ) ..- ~ tU 0000~-00000000 ..- Lt)~t")t")NNt")t")t")M\O' t")t") u Ll')O(0')-CX)CX)Ll')Ll')-(0')'NLl')OO-m' ~NN(0')m-' ~(0')- 0+-).Q c/U (O')(0')-N --(0')(0')N(0')~~ -- Qj.C eQ) Qj~ 1-1- 0-0- 1-1- O.Q.. ..- c(c(0-0- ~~~c:: ~~Q..O. ~~~~ -J-J~~~~~~~LIJ-- Q)Q) -J-J~~~C::~~~U.JL£.L£.~~ L.I.JL.I.JV) V') 00 C LA-LA-~~--~~v)v)00 QjO z V)V)OO~L.I.J » V)V)OO~LIJ » u.C o --»~C::-J-J~C:: z --»~~-J-J~~ tU~ - -J-J-J..J~~UUC(~t.£..!Lo.l o -J-J-J-JC:C:UU~~~LIJ s...0 c(c(c(ct:~~ ZZV) V') - ~~~~LIJLIJ ZZ~V) .-.c ~ ~~~~ZZV')V) ct:~~U.J 1- ~~~~ZZV)V) ~.:!:~~ I./) u U.J~-J-Jc(c(~L.I.JI-I-UU~a: c:( LIJ~-J-J~~LIJLIJI-I-UU~~ . 0 L.I.JL.I.Jc(c(UU~o:V)V') u LIJ~~~UU~~V)~ ~Q) -J c::~ L.I.JU.J~U.JZZ O ~c: LlJLIJ~LIJZZ UUc::c::c::~c::c::ZZ---OO -J UU~~~~~~ZZ--OO Q):5 L.I.J~~L.I.JL.I.JL.I.JL.I.JU.JZZ1-1- LIJ ~~ ~LIJ LIJ~ LlJZZ 1- f.- ..- ~~»»»-J-JZZV)V') ~~»»»-J-JZZV)V) .ot UUc(c(c(c(C::c(t-!'t-!'c(~-J..J UU<2:~~<2:<2:~~~<2:~-J-J tU- ~~L.I.J~~~L.I.JL.I.Jc(c(~C::c(~ ::J=:1~LIJLIJ~~LIJ<2:<2:~0:<2:~
.-~ ~~CCCCOCL.I.JL.I.JL£.L£.~~ ~CCQQQQQQLIJ~U-LA-~o: O'IO'Iinin-O'Ot"MOO'Ot"NOO MCX)O'I\OO'INMO'ICX)-O'I\Ot-Ln 1-- MN'Ot"inMM'Ot"ininCX)'Ot"MCX)in -N M
Lt')t"..0)0)~-
~O)t"..O\MMt"..O\t"..0\\0\Ot"..- ~ -MLt')ONNO)O)t"..t"..ONN- V') --t"..0) NNNN
c \0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0' \0 VI VVVVVVVVVVVVVV
OOOOLL)'...OOOOOOOO 1.O1.01.0-1.0-~MCX)NN'...~M V) -CX)'...I.0~~I.0LL)O\q-q-NM~ q-q-MM q-M--NNNM
.0 ~CX)CX)~q-q-Ll')' CX)' q-q-CX)CX) V') vv
..0 \Oo~o\Or-..Ln-OOLn~-(X) 0,. -N-- -N N-
00000000000000 0.. M.q-O'I-O-Ln.q--NCX)M-O ~~~r q-.q-~~LnLnM.q-r-..r-..
O\Ln N\D ' '...NN M\OLnO\ON NLnO-CX)'...MN-~CX)CX)-O c - z NN-- NNN- NN N ~'...'...O\o\oCX)OCX)ON'...~o\ Ln\O~U')NN\O'...NMMM\OLn
OOOOO~OONOMOLn- 0\ (0") ~ --o\LnMQ)M~-O~O-O .. z -, ~, MM~NO\OLn~ > O\DOO~-0\'...0\1t)1t)(0")00\DOO NNN(0")- NNNNN-~N
r-.OOr-.r-.r-.\OOOOOOr-.oo0000 0 ~ 00000000-0--00 ,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,...,... VVVVVVVV v vv I= vvvvvvvvvvvvvv - "0 Qj 1--1-- 0.0. 1-1- Q.Q. ~ «0.0. ~~~~ c:(c:(Q.Q. L.LJL.LJ~~ c -I-I~~~~~~~~-- -J-JL.LJL.LJ~~~~L.LJL.LJ-- ..- Ll..LI..~~--~~V')V')oo U-U-L.LJL.LJ--LJ.JL.LJV)V)OO ~ V')V')oo~~ » V)V)OOLJ.JL.LJ » c z --»~~-1-1~~ z --»~~-J-J~~ o O -I-I-I-I~~uuct<~~ O -J-J-J-J~~UUc:(c:(LJ.JLJ.J u - ctctct<~~ ZZV')V') - c:(c:(c:(c:(LJ.JL.LJ ZZV)V) - 1- ~~~~ZZV')V') ct<~~ 1- ~~~~ZZV)V) c:(c:(L.LJLJ.J < ~~-1-Ict<~~t-I--UU~~ < LJ.JL.LJ-J-Jc:(c:(LJ.JL.LJI-I-UU~~ u ~~ct
~ . 0"' ~QJ QjCl 4-.'.. V)c ~ 0..- C.E "'CC 00 QJ= ~o s..~ uU C.3 QJC E .. ..-~ 0V) ..-0 °..c '+-S..Qj ..- UO\ ~~ ..- QjC ~ o+.J~ ~ UO .:O-O-MO c ..c"'0 QjU (/) 0\0'10\0'10'10'1 C'lC r-- --1 MMNMM~ VVVVVV .~ IU C QJ r--s.. r-..r-..("')~oo ~~ So IU S- .c ~ OJ-vOJrLl')~~~r-..~ 000000 >.IU c:C) 000000 (/) OInIn~~O ~o.. 0..- -- O000MN -M~MNLl') "'C .. ..-a) ~ ONNNr--.o o+.J -0\~Nr--.aJ C'I~ tC"O U o+.Jc OOr-..ON~ .0 \O\OLt)Lt)(X)(X) O\.QJ QjtC I/) a) -CX)o\CX)N- ~,.., C) --N-ot 000000 -0 Qj~ 0) -O'IMCX)' \D S- >s.. u.. N' N-~- o.. Ln~NMNM (/1 U~ 000000 ..0 ~~~Ll')\0'... QJ~ ..- r-- -Ll')\Or ~o Q. VVV ~C o+.J .. < r ~Ll')CX)MO tUQJ tC+.J ~M-NM~ a.n C'lN ~e ~U .. ..Qs.. O"Qj ~ O-a)O'N ' 000000 Q)QJ ~ , u OM--OO ~~ c:0 O 0.. r-..\DM~O\O ~~ S- ~ -NNN-N QJQJ c.. c( N V NLn(O') c OO.q-M-.q- >~ - N NN-NNM C ~+.J s.. N q-N\O\O' OOOMO'... .~"'0 .c:c u C C'lQ) z ~-Mr-..~1.0 UIU E Lt)O\c ~~ -- .~ QjS- QJ ~C 3Q) (I') N OO\O~NM tUO NMNMNN -- ~.~ >I+.J '"0 \0,,0000 > N-q.\0~~ O"~ s..~ u 000000 "' "~\0\OOaJ -- tUtU ~~ V V vv z U')O'I~-~N ~ O~ In ~U')~~ C..- C'I"O NM--N'... .~..- c 0) OOOOOC.~ ..- C'ltC ~ 000000 000000 ..Q ~ 000000 0 r- (/1IU -c 10 (¥)COC\~C\CX) ~ vvvvvv 1- C..c 11)0 u ~(¥) ID vvvvvv OQJ c: ..- ~,",Ln-No\ .~~ ~ o~ "' tC c:: ---NN- Ll') ~+.J ~N~r-..0\~ . ~~ ~..- 'P- ~~~~~~ c ~0\\OLnNO\ .~ Ll')O\M~Ll')N ~O ~..-s ~ vvvvvv ~ Lnr-..~\0~~ 1- ~~N N C..c -- QJ", c:..0 Uo QjtC 1- I.OM-C\lnO ' O\CX) C..c u.C ~ -N000- OV) U c:Q) - -' Oln'... CJ 000000 ~ o~ 0 a)a)0\C\a)a) ~ 000000 0'1 r-..~r-..ID~~ . QJ ~ ~ OLnLnN-M ~ ~~inOOin ~..c UQj .qo~M.qor-..ID (I') r-..0~~~~ C~ ~C ~ ---\Din c:o QJ~ Qj.c So EV) ~4- QJo ~~ ~ r.r. ~~ ~~ c ~~~~-- ~~~~-- ~~~~-- ~~~~-- QJ", QjV) L.I.JL.AoJ--OO UJLLJ OO LI.JL.I.J--OO LULU--OO OJQJ L.I.JL.AoJOO» UJUJOO» LI.JL.I.JOO» LULUOO» ~ QjQ) z ~~»~~ z ~~»~~ z ~~»~~ z ~~»~~ U.~ U.c UU~~L.I.JL.AoJ o UU~~UJLLJ o (...)U~~LI.JLI.J o UU~~LULU tG"' o s.. :U+.J - L.I.JL.AoJV)V) LiJUJV)V') LI.JLI.JV>V> - LULUV)V) $.. ~ V)V)L.AoJL.I.J 1-- V)V')LiJUJ V>V>L.I.JL.I.J 1- V)V)LULU t-C I--S- c:t t-t-L.I.JL.AoJ~~ < I-I-LiJLLJ0::~ '< ~~LI.JLI.J~~ ct: I-I-LULU~~ 0 .0 u V)V)~~ <-) V')V')0::~ u V>V>~~ u V)V)~~ toI.ILLJ zz LI.JLL.I zz ~'+- 0 L.I.JL.AoJ zz O 0 LULU ZZ Il)~ --1 Zz~~OO 9 ZZ~~OO -J ZZ~~OO -J ZZ~~OO IU QJV! L.AoJL.I.JL.I.JL.AoJt-t- toI.IUJtoI.IUJ1-1- LI.JLL.ILI.JLI.JI-I- LUL.:JLULUI-I- QJC'I Q) -J-J»V)V) -J-J»V)V') -J-J»V>V> -J-J>>V) V) ~ .Q~ ~~«-J-J CD(!JC%:CX:-J-J tD~«-J-J c..!'~«-J-J ..c~ tC ..- «L.I.JL.AoJ« C%:CX:toI.ILA-"C%:CX: «LI.JL.I.Jc:« «LULU« IU ..- I--V! L.AoJL.AoJQQIXIX toI.ILLJQC~~ LI.JL.I.JCC~~ LULUOOc:c: t-S IJ')..M(") c 0'10'10'10'1 ..- V) VVVV -In -J --C..O MMNM
IG ' ~lnCX) M-NC\ ~ NM ".- ' \D' a) 0000 V) MM oomMN ~ OO'Ot"I001 0000
I.ONNN .0 ~~~~ ~ VVV OO\ON V) vvvv 0) \O",,"°(X) U- O'\"""('t)('t) -- oo~(X) r-- M C'.; f'-. 0\ .0 ~~~~ ~ -O\MM 0.. vvvv N- r-..Q)Or-.. ~ u NLt)Q)O\ NN-- 0000 0.. Lr)(X)(X)N
Vj ooq-oo ~ -000 c: U')~OO- ~~~~ ~ MOO-N t- -~NLn a:I vvvv - 00"--
I- ooq-~Ln V) t'-.t'-.t'-.t'-. ~,...ooo 0000 0000 LnONO\ 0 t ..,... ,... 00 Q) 0) q-NI.0~ ~ ~ ~ 0000 ~ -r-..oo (.I') N\OO\M VVVV N--- MN-N ~
a: a: ~~ cx:cx: ~~ ~~L.I.JL.I.JOO ~~-- ~~L.&JLLJOO ~~-- ~~oo L.IoJL.&JOO L.I.JL.I.J» ~~» L.&JLLJ» L.IoJL.&J» z a: a: a: a: z ~~~~ z cx:cx:cx:cx: z ~~~~ o UUL.I.JL.I.J o uu~~ O UULLJLLJ o UUL.IoJL.IoJ - V) V) - 1/)1/) - (/)(/) - V) V) 1- L.I.JL.I.J ~~ 1- LLJLLJ ~ L.IoJL.IoJ ~ 1-1-a:a: ~ 1--1--~~ cx: I-I-CX:CX: ~~~~ .s.s~~ .s.s~~ ~5~~ E .. OV1 S-QJ ~.~ +-I "O~ Q)~ +-10 UU Q) ..-~ ..-S- 00 U.c C') VI.~ Q)~ ..- c.~ E~ roro VI ~ Q)s.. o+.)ro Q.. O VI 0\000\00 $... ~M M~Lt) o 0 .. u 2: 0--0-- c.o+.) r-- ~oooo~ I vv vvv Eu ~ ' ' ~' ~N oQ) N ~ rr', U , N \0 0 MNOON'o:t"N O-InOOM -S- -0 c ~Q.. u 000000 ~ "0 Mo\-N-O\ 0\ V V V -CX)N- 00+.) ..o~ 0'1 0VVVVVV ct Q)~ 000000 000000 ..-S- 000000 ~0) ~~CX)NO'Lr)OLr)MM OQJ tU ONr r ~U') .Co+.) MCO-NCO~ u N0:>rN~NMNN NI.0r M ~+-1 Q) -QJ (I') NMNNMLn .c~ MNONNM VI"O .~ ~ ~~~~~~ cc vvvvvv -J OONOOO ~ro 00 OO~ VV ~ M~Ll')~NO ~ 0'1 ONOONM 0 ~ 1'-..1'-..1'-..1'-..1'-..1'-.. .~ 000000 000000 000000 -+-I Q> OLr)00NI.0 o+.)ro ~ 000000 ~ NOOO~I.0N .C+-1 0) VVVVVV ~MNO\OO 01.~ NMMO)MM (/) Q)':;: c 0\0\0\0\0\0\ (,I') VVVVVV -~MO'Ot"M (.I) O\-'...MIr>'... ~ .0 ~~0\~~~ -\oC)C)Lr)C) V) v vvv c N No\-' N .q-O\C).q-\0.q- --- .0 'f:t"'f:t"Ln'f:t"'f:t"'f:t" 0- VVVVVV 0\\000\, 0 > 00' 00- 000000 000000 0. -0\~-LnN ' ' 0\.".00 -N..-4NNN 0- ~~~~~~ 1- vvvvvv z LnNLnq-LnM V- COO'II.0q-r-..r-.. 000000 1-- Ln--Ln(¥)'... trJ -' MONq- 0\ z -0\-o\LnN NMq-MMM 3 3 O O ~ ~~~z ~ ~~~z ~ ~~~z LI.J LI.JLI.JLI.JZ ~ ~~~0-4 ~ ~~~- u uuu~ u uuu~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ (I) V'J~V'JV'JV'JO V) RECOMMENDATIONS Trace elements can be mobilized into aquatic food chains by agricultural irrigation return flows. Selenium in irrigation drainwater is of particular concern in the arid Western United States where many soils contain naturally high concentrations of this element. Dissolved selenium entering an aquatic ecosystem can be absorbed or ingested by organisms, it can bind or complex with particulate matter, or it can remain free in solution. Aquatic systems that accumulate selenium most~efficientlyare shallow, standing or slow-moving wetlands that have low flushing ,rates (lemly and Smith, 1987). Closed basins receiving selenium- ladened water can, through evaporative concentration, achieve elevated selenium concentrations in the water and eventually in the food chain at levels adverse to aquatic birds and fish (See, et al., 1991 The source or sources of selenium and its mobilization into the food chain cannot be determined based on the imited scope of this study. A geologic and hydrologic study would be required to identify potential or existing sources and to trace the transport of the selenium from the water to the sediment and biota. Additionally, the occurrence of bioaccumulation cannot be determined due to the narrow scope of this study. Eaglenest Creek and the large alkali flat near Deaver Reservoir should not be used as mitigation sites due to elevated selenium concentrations and the potential for bioconcentration in the aquatic food chain. Selenium concentrations of 12 and 13 ug/g dr) weight in the sediment from the alkali flat .re inundated, selenium could be mobilized into the aquatic food chain at 20 USFWS -Region 6- Environmental Contaminants Re.Dort concentrations that could cause toxicity and impaired reproduction in birds Although selenium in water from Eaglenest Creek did not exceed the 0.002 mg/l threshold for bioconcentration, it did approach this level (0.0015 mg/l). Additional monitoring would verify if selenium concentrations fluctuate above 0.002 mg/l. Algae samples collected from Eaglenest Creek had selenium concentrations approaching the 3 ug/g dry weight dietary threshold for adverse effects to aquatic birds (1.5 and 2.9 ug/g dry weight). Aquatic invertebrates collected from Eaglenest Creek exceeded the 3 ug/gdry weight dietary threshold for adverse effects to aquatic birds (5.3 and 10 ug/g dry weight). The mitigation proposals at Buck Creek and the seeps near Frannie and Deaver canals should be designed as flow-through wetlands to minimize evaporative concentration of selenium in the water. Follow-up monitoring of the aquatic food chain should be conducted after creation of the wetlands to determine if selenium is bioconcentrating 21 USFWS -B~Ri on 6 -fnv.' '.Dl8D.tBl CDntamjnantsRep;Dr.t . LnERATllRE CITEQ Lemly, D. an~ G. .Smith.;l987. Aquati.c.cycl.ing t)f selenium: im~l.ications f~r.f1$h a-nd w,ldl,fe. f.,sn and Wildl',fe Leaflet 12. U.S. F,sh and Wl1.dl,fe .Servicet Washingtont D.t. 10 p. See, R.B., D..L. Naftzt D.A. Peter~ont J.G. Crockt J.A. Erdman, .R.f. Severson, P. Ramirez and J.A. Arms.trong. 1991. Assessment of sel:enlUm .1n soil, representative ~lants, watert bottom sediment and :biota 1n tne Kendri,ck Recl'imation PrQject Areat Wy:om;n,gt 1985-90. U.S. Geo1.gtc.l :SurY.e.yJWater Resources Jnvesti.gat ions Report , C~YeMe , 'Wy. .( i n "r~). u.s. Bureau of Rec1aillatlon. 1190. Preliminary assessment of neen for rehab] 11 tat ion of project faci 1 i ties , Shos.h8ne ,Project, :WyGm1ng. B1ghorn Bas icn PrQje:cts Off1 ce, 'Great P.' I'ins Regi;on, Cody, WyJjming. 35 pp . u .5. Envi ronmenta 1 Pro-tect i on Agency ~ IJS6. Q1I'al it;y criter;~ f-or wat~r. ,:EPA 44015-86-001. Office of Water Regul:at.1'ons aDd Stan9~ds, 1W.stl1ng'tDn, D.,C. ~ 22