Trace Elements in Existing Wetlands and Proposed Mitigation Sites in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Shoshone Rehbilitation & Betterment Project, Park and Bighorn Counties, Wyoming

Authors

Pedro Ramirez Jr., U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceFollow
Joni Armstrong, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Date of this Version

1991

Comments

Published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1-25, (1991)

Abstract

The U.S. 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).