Elemental Contaminants Monitoring

Ozark National Scenic Riverways lies within the Ozark Plateau in southeastern Missouri and comprises approximately 33,265 ha (82,196 acres) and includes 134 mi (216 km) of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. The Ozark Plateau is highly mineralized and contains economically significant lead-zinc deposits discovered by early French explorers. These and subsequently discovered deposits have been exploited at varying levels of intensity since the early 1700s.  Advances in mining technology facilitated deep mining, which was and remains focused in two districts: the “Old Lead Belt” located primarily in Washington and St. Francois counties (active from about 1700 until the early 1970s) and the “New Lead Belt” primarily in Crawford, Iron, and Reynolds counties, which became active in the 1960s and where lead and other metals are still mined.  The southernmost extent of the New Lead Belt is located about 20 mi (32 km) northeast of Ozark National Scenic Riverways where most mining occurs on lands that were formerly part of the Mark Twain National Forest.  Recent exploration has located new potentially exploitable deposits within the boundaries of the national forest in Shannon County.

           Ambient concentrations of elemental metals (cadmium, cobalt, lead, nickel, lead, zinc) in the Ozark Plateau from “natural” sources have been augmented by releases from mining and ore processing activities.  Karst features such as sinkholes, conduits, and springs within the area facilitate transport of mining-associated contaminants from runoff and discharges.  Blue Spring, an important feature on the Current River within the park, has been contaminated by mine tailings that originate in the Black River surface watershed (Barks, 1978).  The metals travel to the spring through its underground recharge system.  Although lead does not accumulate to high concentrations in organisms, effects including biochemical responses to lead in fish and altered benthic fish and macro-invertebrate community composition have been associated with the release of metals from both lead belts (for example Dwyer and others, 1988; Schmitt and others, 1984, 1987, 1993; Allert and others, 2004). 

            Park managers need to define and track concentrations of contaminant metals and possibly other potentially toxic elemental contaminants within the park, for both human health and ecological concerns.  These needs may become more acute if additional economically significant lead-zinc deposits are located and exploited.

Reports

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

 

Monitoring Questions and Approach

1. What are the current levels of lead and other metals in the rivers of the park?
2. Are metals concentrations increasing?
3. Are river biota exposed to potentially toxic concentrations of lead or other elemental contaminants?.
4. Are individuals and populations of metal-sensitive river biota potentially being affected by metals exposure?

Protocols

• Schmitt, C.J., Brumbaugh, W.G., Besser, J.M., Hinck, J.E., Bowles, D.E., Morrison, L.W., and Williams, M.H., 2008, Protocol for monitoring metals in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri: Version 1.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1269, 42 p. (PDF)

References

• Allert, A.L., J.F. Fairchild, J.M. Besser, C.J. Schmitt, B.C. Poulton, and W.G. Brumbaugh. 2004. Ecological effects of lead mining in streams of the Missouri Ozarks. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 4th World Congress, November 11-15, Portland, OR (poster).
• Brumbaugh, W.G., T.W. May, J.M. Besser, A.L. Allert, and C.J. Schmitt. 2007. Assessment of elemental concentrtions in streams of the New Lead Belt in Southeastern Missouri, 2002-02. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5057. 57 pp. PDF
• Dwyer, F.J., C.J. Schmitt, S.E. Finger, and P.M. Mehrle. 1988. Biochemical changes in longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis, associated with lead, cadmium and zinc from mine tailings. Journal of Fish Biology 33: 307-317.
• Schmitt, C.J, F.J. Dwyer, and S.E. Finger. 1984. Erythrocyte δ‑aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA‑D) activity as an indicator of Pb and Zn bioavailability in a river contaminated by mine tailings. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 41: 1030‑1040.
• Schmitt, C.J., S.E. Finger, T.W. May, and M.S. Kaiser. 1987. Bioavailability of lead and cadmium from mine tailings to the pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis ventricosa). In Neves, RJ, ed., Proceedings of the Workshop on Die-offs of Freshwater Mussels in the United States, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee, Rock Island, IL, p. 115-142.
• Schmitt, C.J., M.L. Wildhaber, J.B. Hunn, T. Nash, M.N. Tieger, and B.L. Steadman. 1993. Biomonitoring of lead-contaminated Missouri streams with and assay for erythrocyte δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity in fish blood.  Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 25: 464-475.

Reports

Go to the Reports page

Links

• WASO NR GIS Data Store

Contact Information

• David Bowles
  Aquatic Resources Monitoring Leader (417-836-4702)