Alan Gregory’s Conservation NewsWhen quagga mussels were found in Lake Mead, that was the unfortunate first infestation west of the Mississippi, but now some anglers or boaters accidentally spread them to two northern Nevada reservioirs.
Quagga mussel infestation hits reservoirs in Northern Nevada. By Henry Brean. Las Vegas Review-Journal.
I don’t think it will, not as the so-called conservatives in office today look at the world. However, back in the world of facts where Lake Mead isn’t far from the level of “dead pool,” there will be enormous consequences for all the Colorado River Basin states: Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California.
Salazar: Colorado River issue could push conservatives to face climate change. By Karoun Demirjian. Las Vegas Sun
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego places Lake Mead at a 50% chance to run dry by 2020, with its enormous power production inoperative by 2017. They gave a 10% chance it would be inoperable by 2014.
Energy development poses challenge to wildlife habitat. By Larry Johnson. Las Vegas Review-Journal.
And unsaid is the continuing bad idea of centralized energy generation, even if it is said to be renewable.
Ely Sheep Grazing Allotments. The orange polygons represent bighorn sheep distribution and the red polygon represents the Warm Springs sheep trail. Click for larger view.
For the last several years I have been appealing grazing decision issued by the Ely District of the BLM and, over and over again, the District only considers alternatives which maintain the status quo even when they have identified problems on the allotments that are either caused by or exacerbated by livestock grazing.
The decision that was overturned and remanded back to the Ely District was for sheep grazing on 8 allotments encompassing 1.3 million acres of the Egan Field Office. In their decision the BLM only considered two alternatives, one which would have renewed the previous 10-year decision without any changes; and one which would have renewed the permit with very minor changes in seasonal use, and placed very weak utilization standards on different components of the vegetation but kept the exact same number of grazing AUMs. They didn’t consider a no grazing alternative or an alternative which would have reduced grazing levels at all.
For immediate release – January 25, 2011
| Contacts: | Jon Marvel, Executive Director Western Watersheds Project, 208.788.2290 |
| Rob Mrowka, Center for Biological Diversity, 702.249.5821 |
LAS VEGAS, Nev – Two conservation groups and three Indian Tribes filed suit today to protect a pristine mountain valley adjacent to Great Basin National Park in Nevada from a poorly-sited 8000 acre industrial wind energy project, approved by the Department of the Interior with minimal environmental review. The valley is home to rare and imperiled wildlife such as the greater sage grouse, and sensitive species including golden eagles and free-tailed bats. The project area is also a sacred site to Western Shoshone Tribes.
“We hope this litigation will lead the federal government to choose less damaging locations for wind power developments,” said Jon Marvel, executive director of Western Watersheds Project.
“Renewable energy is nationally and globally important for addressing the growing threats from climate change,” said Rob Mrowka, an ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the parties in the suit. “But, renewable projects must be properly located with careful consideration of the values of not only the site but also of the surrounding area”.
On October 15, 2010 the Bureau of Land Management approved a proposal by Spring Valley Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of Pattern Energy of San Francisco, to construct the project on public lands in northeastern Nevada just north of Great Basin National Park. BLM approved the project over the objections of state and federal wildlife officials, nearby tribes, and conservation groups. Rather than carrying out a detailed review involving the preparation of an environmental impact statement, BLM instead prepared only a cursory environmental assessment.
“The best ways to avoid negative impacts of renewable energy projects are to carry out a thorough environmental review and site them carefully. Unfortunately, in this case BLM did neither,” noted Mrowka.
One tidbit on the wolf issue. Chet Edwards, a Blue Dog Democrat from Texas, author of the most anti-wolf bill in Congress lost big. It is doubtful his bill was much of a factor.
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Misc.
Montana ballot initiative I-161 which we discussed for a long time here, passed. It prohibits the current system of outfitter-controlled non-resident hunting licenses.
Everyone knows at least a little bit about Las Vegas. To many visitors, Las Vegas is Nevada. In terms of population this is almost true. The large majority of the state’s population lives in Clark County (Las Vegas) — almost 2-million people live in this small southern Nevada urban area. Reno is the only other major population center.
There is the real Nevada. It’s a land of vast deserts (both hot desert and cold Great Basin desert). Over a hundred mountain ranges bisect the desert basins. Scenery is wonderful, although it is not the classical jagged glacier peaks and deep forest. Population density is very low. Best of all, almost 80% of the state is public land. You don’t have to ask permission to use it.
On the other hand, it is not pristine land. Most of the land is grazed by cattle, although Nevada is regularly held up as an example of the poorest grazing land in America. Much of north central Nevada is being torn apart by vast gold mine pits that spew their poisonous mercury upon the residents of Utah and Idaho. The gold pits are late comers to an earlier era of mining that created towns like Searchlight, Nevada.
Nevada ‘Carp Rodeo’ aims to cull invasive species. Associated Press
There is a battle raging in Nevada about predator control under the guise of helping deer and sage grouse. As it turns out the problem isn’t about predators but about habitat quality. For years the BLM and the ranchers have colluded in an effort to make more grass available to livestock under the guise of “habitat improvement projects” which destroy piñon/juniper forests and sagebrush needed for cover while ignoring the fact that overgrazing has eliminated essential grasses from vast areas of the landscape and greatly impacted valuable bitterbrush.
When one looks at grazing permit renewal documents from the Nevada BLM, the habitat needs of wildlife are given only cursory analysis and the BLM always makes sure that when there are problems there are never any real cuts in AUMs but only what are commonly referred to as paper cuts, or animals that aren’t really grazed. Utilization standards often allow for utilization of native perennial grasses and shrubs or half shrubs of 50% which, as with the case of blue bunch wheatgrass, often kills the plants or greatly hinders their vigor in these arid environments.
Back in December came news that mountain lions, coyotes, badgers, skunks and ravens would all be targeted in an effort to improve deer and sage grouse survival using $866,000 from the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Heritage fund. The money would have been used to fund operations of Wildlife Services. Since then Nevada Department of Wildlife has come out in opposition saying that these issues revolve around habitat issues rather than predators and that the science doesn’t justify the wanton killing of predators.
Tony Wasley, NDOW mule deer specialist, said controlling predators won’t stop the disappearance of the sagebrush-covered terrain that deer depend on in Nevada and much of the West.
“We’re talking about a landscape-scale phenomenon here,” Wasley said. “The population is limited by habitat.”
Where there is insufficient habitat, “all the predator control in the world won’t result in any benefit,” Wasley said.
Feds, Nevada officials clash over deer predator control
Reno Gazette Journal
Mono Basin Sage Grouse
The Mono Basin sage grouse received a higher priority rating, a 3 on a scale of 1-12, as a candidate species than the larger populations elsewhere which received an 8 rating. Unbelievably the Chief of the Nevada Division of wildlife expressed greater concern about the industries that would be affected. That shows you what that agency’s priorities are.
“Ken Mayer, director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the decision could affect mining, ranching and other activities in a wide area generally around the Mono Basin.”
Sage grouse in this area have declined greatly and have become greatly isolated not only from the larger populations but from each other. Frankly, these grouse should have been listed as threatened, if not endangered, due to their very low population levels and the threats that face them in the future. Notice that there is a proposed mine in the middle of one of the largest population areas.
Nev. wildlife chief questions sage grouse decision
By MARTIN GRIFFITH, Associated Press Writer
The small oversight that threatens the valley’s big pipeline proposal. Nevada Supreme court cites a wording error in ’03 legislation. By Emily Green and Tom Gorman, Las Vegas Sun.
The seemingly unstoppable “water witch of the West” made an early mistake.
I hope it is truly dead, but Put Mulroy may have more cards up her sleeve. Pipeline not the sole option. Authority exploring other means as predictions for Lake Mead remain grim.By Stephanie Tavares. Las Vegas Sun.
As giant Lake Mead continues to dry up, and the drain-the-desert plan maybe dead, will the economic depression in Nevada keep the Las Vegas area wet?
In typical single-minded engineering mentality, this pipeline will be built cross-country with little regard for anything else.
Reno Gazette-Journal on the Ruby Pipeline. By Susan Voyles.
This pipeline is one reason why Western Watersheds giant sage-grouse lawsuit is so important.
Los Angeles Times on the Nevada “roundup”
My view on wild or “feral” horses and burros is that they are non-natives species that, like cattle, damage the range and harm native wildlife. The BLM’s preoccupation with them, rather than making sure the land barons properly manage their cattle on public lands, is excessive.
Although I’d like to see them kept in relatively low numbers, I generally stop and watch them. They do look good.
– – – –
Related story. BLM to put over 800 wild horses on Spanish Q Ranch near Ennis, Montana. By Daniel Person. Bozeman Chronicle.
“Members of the [Nevada] state Board of Agriculture argue that as their numbers increase, guzzlers are altering the landscape and taking precious resources, whether water or forage, from ranchers. They want to stop the Nevada Department of Wildlife from constructing any new guzzlers and are exploring possible legal challenges. Some ranchers say they are ready to sue over infringing wildlife.”
Guzzlers gouge rift between Nevada state agencies. By Sandra Chereb.- Associated Press Writer.
They are so greedy they oppose the direct collection of rainwater and snow by guzzlers.
– – – –
Added.
John Ralston is the most important political commentator in Nevada.
It’s not just greedy ranchers in the state.
Commentary: Marveling at the conflicts of interest, corruption tolerated in this state. By Jon Ralston. Las Vegas Sun
Story on wildlife overpass. Las Vegas Sun
Herbert agrees to ‘go slow’ on Snake Valley water deal. In the meantime, Nevada courts are sorting out an in-state conflict. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune
A danger is that Harry Reid will use the US Senate to help Nevada developers steal the water.
The direct reason for this is their determination to grow and do things that belong in water rich areas — fight the areas’ natural lack of water or fight some other natural factor.* That’s why they build so many dams, dewater their streams, construct huge water pipelines, and mine desert aquifers.
The article below says Utah is making considerable progress reducing per capita consumption.
Conservation report card: Utah trying to cut use, but still a top water guzzler. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune
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* Rich County, Utah is the coldest area in Utah during the winter.
The Great Basin Water Network says Utah will give up Snake Valley and state’s air quality to Las Vegas for support of their own urban sprawl pipeline — Lake Powell to St. George, UT.
Pat Mulroy (image), the Southern Nevada Water Authority executive director (said to be the most powerful woman in Nevada).
A scenic hike. By Mike Cothern – Times-News correspondent
This gets more and more disgusting the longer the story goes on.
Today’s article in the Salt Lake Tribune has a handy sidebar with links to past articles.
Did Utah blink in Snake Valley talks? Water » New documents show Beehive State’s position changed after Nevada’s threats. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune
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Don’t forget to read this High Country News feature as background. Silenced Springs? Great Basin waters face threats big and small. By J. Madeleine Nash. High Country News.
For some time now I have been posting stories on the diversion of desert valley aquifers to provide more water for glitter and sprawl at Sin City. These posts are but most modestly read. Now High Country News has produced a major feature article on this growing issue.
Hopefully this will be some kind of turning point in interest on the issue.
Silenced Springs? Great Basin waters face threats big and small. By J. Madeleine Nash. High Country News.
Update Oct. 8. Snake Valley. First, do no harm. Salt Lake Tribune editorial.
Folks should also consider that this polluted dust from desert valley dewatering is not just going to blow into Utah. It will hit Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming too. Nevada has been one hell of a dangerous state to its neighbors — radioactive pollution from open air A-bomb tests, huge amounts of mercury from the open pit gold mines, and now this scheme that will make us suffer and maybe ruin our health to help Sin City grow.
Snake Valley water deal could kill Utahns, state’s top docs warn. Utah Medical Association presses governor to nix the accord with Nevada. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune.
Folks have seen the Austrialian dust storms overwhelm Sidney. Does Utah need to do this for Las Vegas?
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Past stories on the desert water draining deal.
For keeping updated on this issue so important to Nevada and Utah wildlife and desert ecology. Great Basin Water Network.
The Latest on this growing controversy.
Snake Valley water split angers Utahns. Deseret News. By Amy Joi O’Donoghue.
Utah-Nevada water plan draws fire. The proposal would divide water from the Snake Valley aquifer equally. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune
Past stories in this blog.
For keeping updated on this issue so important to Nevada and Utah wildlife and desert ecology. Great Basin Water Network.
Also see Protect Snake Valley. com
Massive desert wildlife refuge effort nears OK. By Stephanie Tavares. Las Vegas Sun.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan for the largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 would regenerate springs in the desert, streamside areas and some upland over thousands of acres of the 1.6 million acre complex to benefit threatened and endangered species, non-threatened wildlife, including migratory birds. Illegal roads would be closed. There would also be a greater effort at halting and reversing the spread of alien plants and animals.
Here is a link to the plan, which is set to be final on Sept. 21, 2009
The largest portion of the Refuge was established primarily to conserve desert bighorn sheep.
The four refuges are the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.
“Water war” 25 years out, no end in sight to water pipeline fight. By Stephanie Tavares. Las Vegas Sun
____________
Earlier in this blog (Aug. 8). Nevada’s “water wizard” to ask for vote of confidence in face of opposition to more draining of the desert-
Top five most dangerous creatures in Elko County. By Julie Wooton. Elko Daily Free Press.
I didn’t know about the harvester ant.
The plan to drain water out of the desert on Utah/Nevada border and pipe it south to fuel urban sprawl around Las Vegas has been made public.
Proposed Utah, Nevada water accord could clear the way for Snake Valley pipeline. Water sharing » Draft calls for monitoring of groundwater withdrawals, delays pipeline decision until 2019. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune.
From the other day in this blog. Nevada Water Authority shaken by growing push-back to their effort to drain groundwater from under the Nevada desert.
Southern Nevada Water Authority’s boss, Pat Mulroy, thought by many to be the most powerful woman in the Interior West, says she wants a quick vote from Water Authority members [this is a board, not the public] to show they are still committed to plans to pipe groundwater to Las Vegas from the eastern Nevada Desert (including maybe Utah’s desert).
Opposition has been growing rapidly, and there may not be enough water for 270,000 more homes for more sprawl in and near Las Vegas, especially with the rapidly falling water level of Lake Mead on Colorado River.
Nevada Water Authority vote sought on pipeline project. Growing opposition prompts call for vote. By Henry Brean. Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Utah, Nevada nearing deal on Snake Valley aquifer. Groundwater » Greens fret Vegas project may dry up valley around Great Basin National Park. By Brandon Loomis. The Salt Lake Tribune.
Love that SLT subheadline. I guess I’m “fretful” today. 😦
Here is an alert from the Great Basin Water Network. They are not happy about the Utah-Nevada deal.
As a note, Snake Valley runs for many miles along the Utah-Nevada border.
Jul. 27, 2009
Help stop Utah from signing away Snake Valley’s water to Las Vegas sprawl! Act today.
We understand the Utah negotiating team is close to an agreement with the State of Nevada which would allow the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to pump thousands of acre feet of water annually from underneath Utah’s Snake Valley to Las Vegas.
As governor, Gary Herbert will have the authority to approve or block any agreement. We are urging Utahns to call and/or email Herbert’s new transition Chief of Staff Jason Perry and tell him that NO Agreement should be signed at this time.
There is no urgency for any agreement. The Nevada State Engineer will not rule on the Snake Valley water applications for more than two years. If Utah were to sign an agreement now, it would undermine the integrity of the engineer’s decision-making and hearing process.
A premature agreement would undermine the positions of Millard County and the Utah Association of Counties, and place at risk people’s lives and prosperity in Snake Valley as well as create impacts to many other Utahns. It would also jeopardize the ongoing government (BLM) environmental study process before the people even have an opportunity to voice their concerns about the Las Vegas Water Grab.
———————————————–
Please call and/or email today!
The new Herbert Chief of Staff and Transition Team director is Jason Perry.
Email: jpperry@utah.gov
phone: 801-538-8700
The new Herbert Rural Affairs Adviser is Beverly Evans.
Email: bevans@utah.gov
phone: 801-538-8638
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Below is an editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune on the rather shocking new findings about levels of mercury in Utah fish. In some cases the fish have so much mercury it isn’t safe to eat a single fish.
There are many sources of mercury, but for these two states one source stands out — the numerous gold pit mines that have popped up in Nevada — many of which put out far more of toxic metal (once it is converted to methymercury) than an entire handful of coal-fired power plants.
I think it is time for a lawsuit demanding damages.
Mercury testing yields advisories. Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
It’s good to see the sucker finally dead!
Ely coal-fired power plant plan withdrawn. AP in the Reno Gazette Journal.
How much of this kind of thing actually happens? I’ve definitely heard of cases where wolves were shot at and injured by WS.
AP EXCLUSIVE: Wildlife whistleblower case in NV
Scott Sonner, Associated Press
According to the Las Vegas Sun the battle over the huge mercury plume from the recently-closed (again) Jerritt Canyon mine is really over Nevada keeping control of regulating its gold mining industry.
Closing mine part of bigger battle. State wants to keep feds from regulating industry. Las Vegas Sun. By Lisa Mascaro
Well, of course. Nevada has a long history of exporting environmental harm to its neighbors. It didn’t begin with letting mercury poison blow into Idaho and Utah. They have plans underway to steal water from under Utah’s west desert and maybe even Idaho.
For years Nevada smelters sent toxic heavy metals and more traditional pollution into Idaho and Utah.In the late 1980s, there was a multi-billion dollar plan for a huge coal fired power plant in the extreme NE corner of Nevada where essentially all the pollution would blow out of the state.
The federal government itself used the Nevada desert as the site of open air atomic bomb testing whose radioactive fallout caused many cancer cases in Utah, Idaho, California, Montana, and places every further away.
Earlier. August 22, 2008. Mercury pollution investigation shuts down Nevada gold mine near Idaho border
March 16, 2008. Six Nevada gold mines are worse mercury polluters than Jerritt Canyon?
March 15, 2008. Nevada closes Jerritt Canyon Mine for mercury releases.
Thanks to Justin Hayes (Idaho Conservation League efforts), the incredibly toxic Jerrit Canyon gold mine in northern Nevada was shut down in 2008. I thought that was the end of this particular source of mercury pollution (more mercury than many coal fired power plants lumped together).
However, with little fanfare the mine started again in March 2009 with a promise to the state of Nevada to install pollution control by May 30. They didn’t, so they are shut down again. I wouldn’t count on them staying shut, however. Almost no one lives in the area, but the mercury blows north and northeast into Idaho. What incentive does Nevada have to keep them under control?
Nevada gold mine closed due to mercury emissions. By Scott Sonner. Business Week.
Rocky Barker analyzes the situation on his blog. Mercury spewing Nevada gold mine gets shut down again. Idaho Statesman.
It is important to note that there are many other Nevada gold pits pumping out mercur vapor. Jerritt Canyon was simply the worst one individually.
These projects were near a load center and built on degraded land. I wonder if he thinks this is the way most Nevada projects will be, or whether he simply did a cynical PR ploy?
Obama said. “We’ll invest in the development and deployment of solar technology wherever it can thrive, and we’ll find the best ways to integrate solar power into our electric grid.”
I guess this means it our patriotic duty to make sure solar technology cannot thrive in the wrong kind of places — remote, scenic and biologically important areas, far from load centers.
Obama Touts Energy Progress. He Calls Projects In Nevada, Models. By William Branigin. Washington Post Staff Writer
NV deer herds down; other species doing well. By Sandra Chereb. Associated Press Writer
Utah’s air quality overall is relatively good. The problem is that it is bad, has been for a long time, and is getting worse where most of the people live — the Wasatch Front and Cache Valley.
Utah’s dirty air in population centers goes back to the days of primitive metal smelters located right in Salt Lake Valley. As all but one has closed, the problem has shifted to the emissions from and associated with the seemingly endless strip city from Brigham on the north to Payson on the south (where I am in a motel typing this story).
The EPA may soon impose sanctions on the state. If it stops the sprawl, that might be a good thing. See the story below.
Dirty-air problem is growing. EPA set a deadline. It won’t be easy. In fact, the state says, ‘It’s going to be really hard.‘ By Judy Fahys. The Salt Lake Tribune.
I want to add that developing problems in Nevada will only make it worse in the long run, such as the huge coal plants set to be built near the state’s western border at Ely and dewatering of Nevada valleys to feed continued growth in Las Vegas.
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Update on the Ely Energy Center (Ely coal plant). Coal plant debate intensifies. In Ely, feelings about the environment and the economy overwhelm the agenda. Las Vegas Sun. By Phoebe Sweet
Still more on the Ely project. Nevada Energy delays Ely coal plant, hastens transmission line project. By Jeremy Twitchell. Las Vegas Sun
An interesting story from basinandrangewatch.org.
Government Scoping Meeting: Residents React to Industrial Wind Farm Proposal. By LMC
Searchlight, Nevada area map.
Up in Smoke: Environmentalists say future of three proposed Nevada coal plants in jeopardy. By Phoebe Sweet. Las Vegas Sun.
An EPA decision and the bad economy probably means they are dead.
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Perhaps most importantly, the EPA decision also has very important national ramifications. EPA Coal Decision Levels Playing Field for Wind, Solar. By Alexis Madriga. Wired Magazine.
Mercury-emitting mine in Nevada shuts down. “The owner of the mine just reported big losses. The operation sent tons of the toxic metal into Idaho’s air before a Boise activist pushed officials into cracking down.” By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.
The monies to buy the land came from the controversial Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. It is very important wildlife habitat.
17,000 acres purchased by BLM for public use. By Susan Voyles. Reno Gazette Journal.
Google Maps. The general area of the purchase.
The Jerritt Canyon mining and milling operations just south of the Idaho border have been shut down after it was found this gold operation was emitting 90 times as much mercury as your typical large coal-fired power plant.
Mercury pollution is one of the major arguments against coal-fired power plants.
Mercury pollution investigation shuts down Nevada gold mine near Idaho border. Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman.
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Kudos to the Idaho Conservation League for helping stop this outrageous poisoning of Idaho.
[Justin] Hayes’ activism, tenacity forces mercury polluter to close. Letters from the West. Rocky Barker.
Added Aug. 25. Editorial from the Times-News. There’s a little less mercury to worry about today.
Earthquake swarm picks up again in northern Nevada. By Martin Griffith. AP.
Video: Reno Earthquakes Return, Rattle Residents, Sways High-Rises. National Ledger.
You can follow earthquakes as they occur at USGS’s Latest Earthquakes.
Copyright © Ralph Maughan.
From the sign that says “next services 98 miles,” drive down U.S. 93. After 30 miles turn off onto a graded dirt road and go 15 miles, then 4 miles on “a way.” You are at the Fortification Range, a little known, recently designated Wilderness area with elk, deer and wild horses. This was taken on May 18. The mountains in view are actually the Snake Range. I love that unpopulated Nevada open backcountry.
Here’s a real story. It’s about the poisoning of Idaho. Nevada and this mining company should be paying we Idahoans reparations.
Nevada closes mine for mercury releases. Idaho officials say Jerritt Canyon has tainted Gem State waters and fish. The mine will have to fix its pollution control equipment. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.
This gold mine was the worst single source of mercury pollution in the United States, but it is just one of scores of gold pits releasing mercury across Nevada.
This was a fairly strong quake.
I felt it for about 10 seconds at my home in Pocatello, Idaho. That is in SE Idaho
Northeastern Nevada Hit by 6.0 Quake. AP (with a photo of damage)
Update: Nevada earthquake ripples through Treasure Valley [Idaho]. More than a dozen aftershocks were reported Thursday from a 6.0-magnitude temblor. Wells, Nev., was hit the hardest. By Kathleen Kreller. Idaho Statesman.
Related. Experts: Utah’s big one inevitable. Salt Lake Tribune. By Patty Henetz. The Salt Lake Tribune
Mega-wind project south of T.F. progresses. Bulk of electricity likely to go out of state [to Nevada]. By Matt Christensen
Times-News writer.
I’m sick and tired of Idaho being raped and Idaho poisoned for the sake of making money in Nevada.
More Nevada gold mines spew more toxic mercury than they reported. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.
Three years ago hardly anyone thought of this, but the fact is southern Idaho waters and part of Utah too is being poisoned by the emissions from the rapidly growing number of open pit gold mines in Nevada.
Recent studies have also shown that forest and range fires emit a lot of highly toxic mercury. It isn’t a natural component of vegetation, but combustion of deposits from industrial sources on the grass and trees. I wonder how much Nevada mercury was spread around the United States from the Nevada and Idaho range and forest fires this last summer?
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