Ecological assessment for the wetlands at Milltown Reservoir, Missoula, Montana: Characterization of emergent and upland habitats

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620131210· OSTI ID:6525210

Linder, G ^[1]; Hazelwood, R; Palawski, D ^[2]

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1. HeronWorks Farm, Salem, OR (United States)
2. Fish and Wildlife Service, Helena, MT (United States). Ecological Services; and others

Wetlands in mining districts in the western US are frequently impacted by heavy metal-contaminated sediments. The present study summarizes a soil contamination evaluation and an ecological assessment completed for a Superfund site located at Milltown Reservoir wetlands (MRW) in western Montana. For wetlands, as well as upland habitats adjacent to wetlands, biological evaluations in the field and laboratory should be considered critical components in the ecological risk assessment process. Depending upon habitat type, field and laboratory methods have been developed for hazard and risk assessment that lend themselves directly to the Superfund ecological risk assessment process, and that consider contaminant bioavailability and subtle expressions of adverse biological effects associated with chronic exposures. As part of an ecological risk assessment for MRW, field surveys and a variety of biological test methods (e.g., terrestrial and aquatic tests) were critical to the wetland evaluation. For evaluating heavy metal effects at MRW, field and laboratory methods within the ecological assessment included wetlands delineation and preliminary plant and wildlife survey; vegetation tests in emergent and upland habitats; soil macroinvertebrate (earthworm) tests; preliminary studies using amphibian and bacterial test systems; soil characterizations; and chemical analysis of soils, sediments, and biological materials. Inn conjunction with chemical analyses, these biological and ecological evaluations yielded an integrated evaluation of ecological effects and exposure at MRW. The data gathered from laboratory and field work at MRW suggested that biological and ecological effects were subtle in their expression in the wetland. In conjunction with sediment contamination evaluations, these studies should reduce the uncertainty associated with the baseline ecological risk assessment for MRW.

• OSTI ID: 6525210
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 13:12; Other Information: Presented at the Symposium on Integrated Ecological Assessment of a Superfund Site: Milltown Reservoir, Clark Fork River, Montana, 13th Annual Meeting, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 8--12, 1992; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
METALS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TOXICITY
MONTANA
WATER RESERVOIRS
WETLANDS
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
SOILS
WATER POLLUTION
REMEDIAL ACTION
US SUPERFUND
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
LAWS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION LAWS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology