WSP07132 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Background Program Scope=: In 1982, dying waterfowl and waterfowl with birth defects and reproductive failures were discovered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServIce at the Kesterson Reservoir National Wildlife RefuQe. California. Investigations were' initiated in 1982 and continued through 1985. The cause of the problem was determined to be high levels of selenium in the irrigation drainwater discharged into the reservoir. There was widespread media attention and congressional mterest m 1985 concernmgthe patential for similar toxic Impacts from irrigation drornwater at other locations acroSs the West. This prampted the Secretary af the Interior to ~pen an mvestlgat!on of the effects of Irrigation drainwater m the Western United States. A cangressional hearing, several televlslan programs, more than 100 newspaper and magazine artrcle~, and .numerous other inquiries focused on the contaminant ISSues related to irrigation drainwater. In late 1985, the Department of the Interior (DOl) developed a program to mvestlgate the extent and magnitude of the problem. That pragram is described in a document entitled Management Strat"9Y far Depart,~ent of the Interior Irrigation, Drainage <..!uallty Issues and was submitted to the Congress m 1985. ThiS management strategy committed DOl to mltlate a program that would identify and address irrigation- mduced water 9uality and contamination problems related to DOl water projects m the West. No specific congressional action waS taken and the Secretary of the Interior approved the Initiation of the National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP). DOl was selected ta manage the NIWQP with an adVISOry group of Bureau Coordinatars representing the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geolagical Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Management of the NIWQP was transferred from DOl to the Bureau of Reclamation in fiscal year 1999. As part af the transfer agreement, the NIWQP retained the Bureau Coordinators as an advisory group to the NIWQP Manager. \ The. NIWQP program focuses on irrigation delivery water that ~: orlgmates from DOI developed irrigation and drainage projects ~' Impacts from irrigation return flows were focusee on the . - following groups of fish and wildlife resources for which the Department has responsibilities. . National Wildlife. Refuges receiving drainwater from DOl Irrrgatlon and dramage facilities. . Areas important to migratory birds and end~ng.ered species receiving drainwater from DOl Irrigation and drainage facilities. . Public water suppl.ies that may be affected by drainwater from DOl Irrigation and drainage facilities. The NIWqP identifies all chemicals that might be transported by Irrigation dramwater from a Federal irrigation project and toat might be Impacting sensitive/protect eo species or public water supplies. However, actual NIWQP remediation is conducted for only those chemicals that are naturally occurring. Contaminants, such as DDE and DDT or other human introduced trace elements, are generally governed by Federal and state regulations relating to their uses. The NIWQP considers the. impacts of these human actiVities In 011 Its remediation decisions because (I) other contaminants in an area may make a NIWQP remediation ineffective or (2) there may be some opportunity to develop remediation plans that effectively correct both NIWQP related and non- NIWQP related contaminant problems at little or no additional public expense. 2 "'t'J il"~'~~ ---'I.l;' I; '.-~t . A,~,' .'1i'~ ',' ,.~ ~'.~ -:.' '" ~'i' :.rr:':l" >~:;,. "." ~~"'.3 '}' ", ',~", . , 'to J;. O'.i' '-,l-,' ;~.;..' '\ ," .,., ,'~i~'. 'l:,~ " ". ' -,..... ~:.:\; _.\M-" "fl'I,"!l.;~ lX.~ l' '~~-,",-~)~~"2'\.\'f'" ' - ~'~~~"~" . '01"1......' ., '~^;~"~ '_.'.. . . \\'.,:T.\' ' ,1.r.:,.'~"""', ~;.;~ 1"'_' 1o"'1~ . ',,,"'" ." ..' ..,. .. , i:, " ~ Redhead Duck embryos from Middle Green River ~In Study Area in Utah. The right embryo IS normal. The other embryos show deformities typical of those caused by selenium. 3