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Kesterson crisis: Sorting out the facts

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5142211
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento, CA (United States). Mid-Pacific Region
The Kesterson Reservoir was planned as a regulating facility to control drainage water discharges into the San Joaquin-Scaramento River Delta from the San Luis Drain'' which was to dispose of salt-ladin agricultural water. Anticipated environmental impacts of the Kesterson operations focused almost exclusively on problems related to seepage and water-logging of nearby lands. Reuse of drainage water for wetlands focused on excessive salinity. Drainage water entered the reservoir in 1978. By 1983 elevated levels of selenium were found with selenium poisoning causing deformed embryos of water birds, adult bird mortality and their poor reproductive success. An estimated 9000 kg of selenium was delivered to Kesterson between 1981 to 1986. This paper details the chronology of the Kesterson crisis and environmental remediation. 20 refs., 1 fig. (BJN)
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOI; Department of the Interior, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5142211
Report Number(s):
LBL-30587; CONF-9007225--1; ON: DE92000808
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English