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Document Title:
Contaminants survey of the proposed Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
AUTHOR(S):
G. T. Allen T. Nash
REPORT NUMBER:
R6/508M/92
PAGES:
1 - 22
PUBLICATION DATE:
1992
ABSTRACT:
The Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) program identifies and
evaluates the effects of environmental contaminants on lands and biological resources managed
by the Department of the Interior (DOI). The primary goals of the BEST program are: 1)
determine the status and trends of environmental contaminants and their effects on biological
resources, 2) identify, assess, and predict the effects of contaminants on ecosystems and
biological populations, and 3) provide summary information to managers and the public for
guiding conservation efforts. One tool used to reach these goals is the Contaminant Assessment
Process (CAP). CAP is a two-part process involving a retrospective analysis of existing
information to assess contaminant threats to lands managed by DOI bureaus. On refuges, this
analysis is conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded by BEST. Secondly, if a
likely or suspected contaminant issue is identified in the first part of the CAP process, sampling
is conducted to confirm the presence of contaminants or their effects.
The retrospective analysis involves reviewing existing documentation and spatial information for
the land unit of interest. Contaminant sources and pathways (i.e. rivers, prevailing wind
direction, ground water) are identified. Contaminants of concern (COCs) and potentially
sensitive species are described. Areas of likely contamination within the land unit are defined
and ranked. The findings are summarized in a preliminary report. If warranted, field sampling is
conducted to further evaluate potential threats. Field sampling is of a confirmatory nature,
designed to determine if contaminants are present or causing an effect on resources.
Another purpose of the CAP is to identify lands that may be vulnerable to spills of hazardous
substances. Once these areas are identified, resources (soils, water bodies, biota) can be targeted
for collection of baseline data to support any future natural resource damage assessments.
In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Field Office, Environmental Contaminants
Program, Lakewood (CFO) initiated and completed the retrospective analysis of CAP for the
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). In 2001, the retrospective analysis was updated by
the CFO using a geographic information system (GIS). The retrospective analysis identified
contaminant sources and transport pathways to the Refuge. The contaminant sources and types
were prioritized, and areas of potential contamination within the Refuge were delineated. This
report summarizes these sources and areas of potential contamination. Spatial and tabular
information were incorporated into the CAP and were managed using a GIS. Data were
collected from federal and state databases (Appendix A). The products of this assessment
include this report and the GIS project that incorporates all information collected.
PUBLISHED BY:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOCUMENT LINK:
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/contaminants/papers/Contaminants%20survey%20of%20proposed%20Marais%20des%20Cygnes%20NWR.pdf, 700 KB
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Mountain-Prairie Region Environmental Contaminants site
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