Principal Investigator(s):

Howard Simonin

Summary:

Final Report (1.95 MB .pdf)

Emissions of mercury (Hg) from power plants and other industrial sources have resulted in high levels of mercury in many freshwater ecosystems of the Northeast. As a result of emission controls, moderate reductions have been recorded in atmospheric mercury deposition in the Northeast. However, few data are available to suggest whether or not mercury concentrations in fish are following the same trends.

This four-year project aims to evaluate mercury concentrations in New York State fish by conducting a comprehensive mercury monitoring program. Project findings will provide vital baseline data on fish Hg concentrations in over 100 lakes for which no data are currently available. The information obtained will allow assessments of potential trends and identify significant changes in the levels of mercury in fish.

Partners: Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation

Downloads:

Project Update (354kb .pdf)

Final Report (1.95 MB .pdf)

Project Site(s):

126 lakes throughout New York State

Latitude/Longitude: (10kb .pdf)

Region(s): Statewide

County(ies): Essex, Suffolk, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Rensselaer, Otsego, Madison, Fulton, Ontario, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Saint Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Hamilton, Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Albany, Livingston, Greene, Herkimer, Saratoga, Warren, Cayuga, Wyoming, Oneida

Sampling:

Sampled Medium(Media): lake water, fish

Analyte(s): pH, sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, silica, fluoride, total dissolved aluminum, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, acid neutralizing capacity, aluminum, mercury, methylmercury, chlorophyll

Sampling Technolog(ies): electrofishing, gill netting, trap netting, and angling, clean-hands procedure

Sampling Frequency: fish collections-once; water sampling-once

Funding:

Total Costs: $714,837

NYSERDA Costs: $487,226

Funding Source(s): NYSERDA, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Contract Initiated: June, 2003

Estimated Completion Date: June, 2007

Links:

Project Website:

Related EMEP Projects: Nina Schoch 7608, Karen Roy 4915, Ron Munson 4916

Contact:

Howard Simonin
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Rome Field Station
8314 Fish Hatchery Road
Rome, New York 13440
PH: (315) 337-0910
Fax: (315) 337-0988
Email: hasimoni@gw.dec.state.ny.us