Working to Find Ways to Reduce Selenium In Our Locally Affected Waterways
Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Selenium Targeting Grant
Status: In Process
Project Details: This project is
designed to gather water quality data necessary to characterize the
selenium loads that are being contributed from various sources within
these watersheds. This includes the collection of soil and water
quality samples from areas that have historically proven to have high
selenium concentrations. Evaluation of the variability of selenium
loading in the basins will guide the implementation of Best Management
Practices (BMPs) for land owners, municipalities, and agricultural
producers in the area, and will provide insight on how current land use
practices affect selenium loading into the local waterways.
In addition to identifying the local sources of selenium loading, the
project also is developing an educational outreach program for land
users in the area, addressing the selenium problem. Issues of concern
include:
Potential impacts of selenium pollution on local fish and aquatic birds;
Potential changes in land use practices, and the resultant economic, environmental, and social impacts; and,
What can be done to reduce selenium loading into the local rivers to improve water quality.