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Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5147

Mercury in the Walker River Basin, Nevada and California—Sources, Distribution, and Potential Effects on the Ecosystem

By Ralph L. Seiler, Michael S. Lico, Stanley N. Wiemeyer, and David C. Evers

Report availability: Portable Document Format (PDF).

CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Acknowledgments
Description of Study Area
Previous Investigations
Potential Sources of Mercury in the Walker River Basin
  • Weathering of Naturally Occurring Mercury Minerals and Geothermal Activity
  • Atmospheric Deposition
  • Ore Deposits and Mining Activities in the Walker River Basin
  • Military Activities
Methods
Selection of Sampling Sites
Collection and Analysis of Streambed-Sediment Samples
Collection and Analysis of Lake Sediment Cores
Collection and Analysis of Water Samples
Collection and Analysis of Biotic Samples
Age-Dating of Walker Lake Sediment Cores
Distribution of Mercury in the Walker River Basin
Water
Streambed Sediment and Lake Sediment Cores
Historical Deposition of Mercury in Walker Lake
Mercury in Biota
Aquatic Invertebrates
Fish
Birds
Implications of Mercury to the Walker River Ecosystem
Summary
References Cited

PLATE

Map showing hydrologic features and locations of stream-gaging stations, sampling sites, geothermal springs, and ore deposits in the Walker River Basin, Nevada and California

FIGURES

  1. Map showing hydrologic features, locations of stream-gaging stations and sampling sites in the Walker River Basin, California and Nevada
  2. Graph showing total-mercury concentrations in sediment as a function of depth in Walker Lake, Nevada
  3. Graph showing relation between total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in streambed-sediment and lake-sediment core samples from Walker Lake, Nevada
  4. Graph showing relation between fish length and mercury concentration in tui chub from Walker Lake, Nevada
  5. Graph showing relation between body weight and total-mercury concentration in blood from common loons at Walker Lake, Nevada
  6. Graph showing relation between total-mercury concentration in 20-25 cm yellow perch and blood from common loons collected in western Maine

TABLES

  1. Concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in water and sediment samples at surface- water sites in the Walker River Basin, 2000-2001
  2. Concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in water and sediment samples at lake sites in the Walker River Basin, 2000-2001
  3. Activities of lead-210 and cesium-137 in sediment cores from site WL4, Walker Lake, Nevada
  4. Concentrations of total mercury in invertebrate and fish samples from the Walker River Basin, Nevada 1999-2001
  5. Concentrations of total mercury in common loons from Walker Lake, Nevada, 1998-2001

CONVERSION FACTORS AND ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY UNITS

Multiply By To obtain
acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3)
foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)
gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L)
inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)
inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)
mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)
ounce, fluid (oz) 0.0296 liter (L)
ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 28.35 gram (g)
pound (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg)
square foot (ft2) 0.0929 square meter (m2)
ton (short) 0.9072 megagram (Mg)

ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY AND OTHER UNITS

  • µg/L, microgram per liter
  • pCi/g, picocuries per gram
  • µg/g, microgram per gram
  • mm, millimeter
  • µg/m2, microgram per meter square
  • mL, milliliter
  • ng/g, nanogram per gram
  • kg, kilogram
  • ng/L, nanogram per liter

Return to SIR 2004-5147 or the Abstract.

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