Effects of Metal-mine drainage on Water Quality in selected areas of Colorado, 1972-73

Moran, Robert E.; Wentz, Dennis A.

doi:10.3133/cir197425

Cited by 33 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…The artificial substrates used in this study were 5 X 20 cm opaque Mylar plastic strips suspended in the stream, with nylon rope anchored t o a rock in a design similar to that described by Chessman & McCallum (1981). Moran & Wentz (1974) found that glass or brick artificial substrates generally were unsuccessful in rapidly flowing Rocky Mountain streams because of breakage by saltating rocks; however, they found Mylar strips were satisfactory. At each site three Mylar strips were left in riffles for about two weeks, as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mineralized veins containing iron, zinc, lead and silver sulfides are found scattered throughout the watersheds. There are many old mine workings, but currently there has been little mining activity (Moran & Wentz, 1974). The four sites sampled in this study are shown in Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There does not appear to be significant accumulation of this flocculent precipitate from year to year; this is probably a result of the scouring action of the moving bed load (gravel t o large rocks) during the high flow conditions in June and July. Moran & Wentz (1974) found that the harsh climatic conditions in the Colorado Rocky Mountains prevented reliable collection of periphyton and benthic invertebrates during the winter and snowmelt period, which includes about nine months of the year. For this reason, in this study, biological samples were obtained during low-flow, open water conditions, in August and September of 1980, and August of 198 1 (Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecological effect of acid conditions and precipitation of hydrous metal oxides in a Rocky Mountain stream

1984

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Periphyton and benthic invertebrate assemblages were studied at the confluence of two Rocky Mountain streams, Deer Creek and the Snake River near Montezuma, Colorado. Upstream from the confluence the Snake River is acidic and enriched in dissolved trace metals, while Deer Creek is a typical Rocky Mountain stream. In the Snake River, downstream from the confluence, the pH increases and hydrous metal oxides precipitate and cover the streambed. The algal and benthic invertebrate communities in the upstream reaches of the Snake River and in Deer Creek were very different. A liverwort, Scapania undulata var. undulata, was abundant in the Snake River, and although periphyton were very sparse, there were as many benthic invertebrates as in Deer Creek. Downstream from the confluence, the precipitation of hydrous metal oxides greatly decreased the abundance of periphyton and benthic invertebrates. This study shows that in streams metal precipitates covering the streambed may have a more deleterious effect on stream communities than high metal-ion activities.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ecological effect of acid conditions and precipitation of hydrous metal oxides in a Rocky Mountain stream

1984

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“…Technical information about heavy metal concentration served as an index of water quality. The U. S. Geological Survey [Wentz, 1974;Moran and Wentz; found that Site C exceeded heavy metal concentration recommended for drinking water; Site B exceeded heavy metal concentration recommended for fish and wildlife survival; and no heavy metals were present at Site A. Ideally, color photos should include a visual depiction of all water quality parameters that could influence perception of suitability for water-based recreation.…”

Section: Empirical Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Option Value: Empirical Evidence From a Case Study of Recreation and Water Quality

Greenley

Walsh

Young

1981

The Quarterly Journal of Economics

161

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A procedure for measuring option value and other preservation values of water quality is developed and applied to a case study area in the South Platte River Basin, Colorado. Benefits from water-based recreation activities are the focus of the study. The results provide an empirical test and confirmation of Weisbrod's proposal that option value and other preservation values represent important social benefits, and should be added to the aggregate consumer surplus of recreation activities to determine the total benefit of environmental amenities to society. In the absence of such an estimate, insufficient resources would be allocated by society to preservation of unique environments such as pristine mountain streams where mineral and energy development may irreversibly degrade water quality.

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“…Historic mining of sulfide‐ore deposits in the upper basin near Leadville has yielded economic quantities of copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, and zinc [18]. Two of the primary sources of metal loading into the Arkansas River are the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel and the Yak Tunnel [19–;21; J. Bunting, unpublished data]. The Yak Tunnel, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site, has historically released a large volume of highly contaminated water into California Gulch, which flows directly into the Arkansas River.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) from a metal‐impacted stream

Strom

Ramsdell

Archuleta

2002

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Blood samples collected from adult and nestling American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) along the Arkansas River (CO, USA), a stream impacted by discharges from historical mining operations, and a reference stream were analyzed for lead concentration and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity. Median ALAD activities of adult and nestling dippers from the Arkansas River were found to be significantly different from median ALAD activities of reference adults and nestlings (p = 0.002 and p = 0.028). Median ALAD activity for adult dippers from the Arkansas River was more than 50% lower relative to reference adults and activity approached a level close to 50% lower in nestlings from the same site. Median blood lead concentrations from adult (range 15.4-386.0 ppb) and nestling (range 12.1-323.0 ppb) dippers from the Arkansas River were found to be significantly different from median blood lead concentrations of reference adult (range 4.2-29.6 ppb) and nestling (range 4.2-8.2 ppb) dippers (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011). The median hematocrit level in adult dippers did not vary between sites (p = 0.73), whereas the median hematocrit level of nestling dippers from the reference site was significantly lower compared to Arkansas River nestlings (p = 0.042). Blood lead concentration in both adult and nestling dippers was found to be significantly correlated with invertebrate lead concentration (r = 0.81, p < 0.001 and r = 0.62, p = 0.01, respectively). Highly significant negative correlations were observed between blood lead concentration and ALAD activity in both adult and nestling dippers (r = -0.86, p < 0.001 and r = -0.84, p < 0.001, respectively). This study suggests that dippers (both adults and nestlings) from the Arkansas River have significantly lower ALAD activity and significantly higher blood lead concentrations compared to reference values. The measurement of ALAD activity may be a sensitive and accurate biomarker for environmental lead exposure in dippers.

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Effects of Metal-mine drainage on Water Quality in selected areas of Colorado, 1972-73

Cited by 33 publications

References 0 publications

The ecological effect of acid conditions and precipitation of hydrous metal oxides in a Rocky Mountain stream

The ecological effect of acid conditions and precipitation of hydrous metal oxides in a Rocky Mountain stream

Option Value: Empirical Evidence From a Case Study of Recreation and Water Quality

Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) from a metal‐impacted stream

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