Study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination from mines

Study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination from mines

Mountain snowpacks accumulate snow throughout the winter, building up stores of water that will supply communities across the American West throughout the long dry season.

Rocky Mountain snow is contaminated, study shows

Mountain snowpacks accumulate snow throughout the winter, building up stores of water that will supply communities across the American West throughout the long dry season. Now, a new study shows that as storms carry snow to the Rocky Mountains, they are also bringing mercury and other contaminants from mines in the region. The research helps scientists understand how contaminants are spread by atmospheric circulation and has implications for sno…

Metal Contaminants From Mines Lurk in Rocky Mountain Snow

Learn about the worsening state of snowpack in the northern Rocky Mountains., which has been contaminated by mercury and other metals from nearby mines.

Mountain snow manots accumulate snow throughout the winter, creating water stores that will provide communities across the western US throughout the long dry season. Now, a new study shows that when storms carry snow into the rocky mountains, they also bring snow to the mountains.

Increased Mercury, Reduced Insect Diversity, and Food Web impacts from Historical Mercury Mining

Read the project summary and associated publications from the USGS. U.S. Geological Survey scientists are seeking to understand the impacts of mercury mining on headwater streams, organisms, and food webs, focused on potential effects from historical mining in central Idaho. Mercury associated with mine waste can leave a legacy of contamination that continues to impact stream health … Continue reading Increased Mercury, Reduced Insect Diversity,…