Mercury in Silver Creek Trout
This morning's Idaho Statesman featured a story on high levels of mercury found in brown trout in Silver Creek. This finding is the result of a study funded by The Nature Conservancy because we have been aware of the mercury readings in southern Idaho. The raw data from the 2007 study showed showed high mercury levels in brown trout, sometimes as high as four times the amount considered healthy for children and pregnant women.
This is obviously of serious concern for the Conservancy. We have worked at Silver Creek for 31 years, creating a wonderful conservation success story by working with landowners and local communities. We always pay careful attention to the health of this beautiful stream, so important to people in the Wood River Valley, and, indeed, around the world.
As the final report has not been issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (who conducted the survey), we want to wait until we have the interpretations of that report before acting, so we can base our decisions on the best available science.
We are aware that there are nuances in this survey. Brown trout live long, and eat other fish, which may influence mercury level readings.
We do not know the source of this mercury. That information will have to come from DEQ, and potentially may involve sources outside of Idaho.
We believe that agencies must act when the interpretation of data is released. We believe that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare must explain the public health issues associated with these mercury levels as soon as possible. We also request that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) determine the source of this mercury and act appropriately to control it within Idaho, or by working with neighboring states.
The Nature Conservancy has faced other threats to Silver Creek. Working together, we will work to address this latest issue to potentially impact this world-class trout stream.
We believe that agencies must act when the interpretation of data is released. We believe that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare must explain the public health issues associated with these mercury levels as soon as possible. We also request that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) determine the source of this mercury and act appropriately to control it within Idaho, or by working with neighboring states.
The Nature Conservancy has faced other threats to Silver Creek. Working together, we will work to address this latest issue to potentially impact this world-class trout stream.
If you have any questions, please contact Matt Miller.
posted by TNC-Idaho at
9:15 AM
1 Comments:
Elusive Quicksilver Creek Problems
As an WR Journal editorial from the same week mentions, this is hardly a smoking gun. Only twenty fish were tested at Silver Creek. More tests need to be conducted over longer periods before it can be claimed with more certainty, who or what is triggering the quicksilver. The last set of tests from three years ago was tainted, since the fish samples sat around too long before they were lab analyzed. Moreover, there are no tests available from the era when the Hemingway’s and Silver Creek started making each other famous.
As one reader recently pointed out in the Times-News, last summer’s Castle Rock fire, combined with the dozens of other Idaho blazes could be factors contributing to these elevated readings. The Wood River Journal’s article also rightly speculates about China’s recent industrial revolution rise as a potential culprit. However, being able to say exactly how much is caused by our Chinese friends manufacturing successes seem to be as elusive as the mercury itself.
In addition, what about the fisher-ladies and gentlemen themselves? Do any of them still carry old mercury thermometers in their pockets for testing water temperature levels? Until investigations that are more extensive are completed, it’s too early to pin down what precisely what is causing the insidious mercury problems or even how bad it really is.
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