Hydrological and geochemical investigations of selenium behavior at Kesterson Reservoir

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5284249· OSTI ID:5284249

Benson, S M; Tokunaga, T K; Zawislanski, P; Yee, A W; Daggett, J S; Oldfather, J M; Tsao, L; Johannis, P W

From 1985 to the present we have studied the behavior of selenium in various habitats and environments at Kesterson reservoir, shifting emphasis as remedial actions altered the physical setting. Investigations have evaluated the efficacy of several remedial alternatives, from innovative techniques relying on the complex geochemical behavior of selenium alternatives, from innovative techniques relying on the complex geochemical behavior of selenium in aquatic environments to conventional excavation schemes. Results of these studies supported two cost-effective remedial measures; drain water deliveries were terminated in 1986 and, in 1988, 1 million cubic yards of soil were imported and used to fill the low lying areas of the former Kesterson Reservoir. To date, these two actions appear to have eliminated the aquatic habitat that caused waterfowl death and deformity at Kesterson from the early 1980's to 1987. Biological, surface water and groundwater monitoring data collected by the USBR indicate that Kesterson is now a much safer environment than in past years when drainage water containing 300{mu}g/l of selenium was delivered to the Reservoir. The continued presence of a large inventory of selenium within the upper portions of unfilled areas of Kesterson Reservoir and immediately below the fill material requires that a continued awareness of the status of this inventory be maintained and improved upon. 83 refs., 130 figs., 19 tabs.

• 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: 5284249
• Report Number(s): LBL-29689; ON: DE92000687
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ARSENIC
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BORON
CALIFORNIA
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMPILED DATA
CONTAMINATION
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EVALUATED DATA
EVAPORATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GEOCHEMISTRY
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
MECHANICS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POROSITY
PROGRESS REPORT
REMEDIAL ACTION
REVEGETATION
SALINITY
SEDIMENTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOIL MECHANICS
SOILS
SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
USA
WATER RESERVOIRS