Metals attached to suspended sediments or dissolved in river water pose a potential health risk to communities that depend on that water for agricultural and domestic uses. Exceedances of Navajo Nation surface water quality standards for metals (especially lead and arsenic) indicate that communities on the Navajo Nation along the San Juan River are exposed to this potential risk. Sources for these metals within the basin include mining legacy, natural deposits, agriculture practices, oil and gas production, illegal dumping, urban sources, and other environmental sources. Understanding the contribution from each source can help the Navajo Nation take action, where possible, to improve San Juan River water quality and reduce the potential health risk to these communities. The objective of this work is to identify the sources of metals and trace elements including arsenic, lead, uranium, and other inorganic contaminants released to the San Juan River in the reach flowing through the Navajo Nation, and to quantify the contribution from each natural and anthropogenic source.
Multiple tasks will be necessary to identify sources of metals in the San Juan River. We will analyze geochemical characteristics of the geologic formations that comprise the San Juan Basin; analyze the total and dissolved concentrations of metals in the San Juan River and its tributaries; and quantify discharge and suspended sediment concentrations from these locations.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
New Mexico Water Science Center Sediment Field Program
The Source of Groundwater and Solutes to Many Devils Wash at a Former Uranium Mill Site in Shiprock, New Mexico
Monitoring for Potential Effects of the Gold King Mine Release on Water Quality in the Animas and San Juan Rivers in New Mexico using Continuous Monitors and Automatic Samplers
- Overview
Metals attached to suspended sediments or dissolved in river water pose a potential health risk to communities that depend on that water for agricultural and domestic uses. Exceedances of Navajo Nation surface water quality standards for metals (especially lead and arsenic) indicate that communities on the Navajo Nation along the San Juan River are exposed to this potential risk. Sources for these metals within the basin include mining legacy, natural deposits, agriculture practices, oil and gas production, illegal dumping, urban sources, and other environmental sources. Understanding the contribution from each source can help the Navajo Nation take action, where possible, to improve San Juan River water quality and reduce the potential health risk to these communities. The objective of this work is to identify the sources of metals and trace elements including arsenic, lead, uranium, and other inorganic contaminants released to the San Juan River in the reach flowing through the Navajo Nation, and to quantify the contribution from each natural and anthropogenic source.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Picture of San Juan River Above La Plata Creek Looking Downstream, USGS Multiple tasks will be necessary to identify sources of metals in the San Juan River. We will analyze geochemical characteristics of the geologic formations that comprise the San Juan Basin; analyze the total and dissolved concentrations of metals in the San Juan River and its tributaries; and quantify discharge and suspended sediment concentrations from these locations.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the extent of sampling for metals along the San Juan River and tributaries, USGS
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Photo of Chinle Creek, USGS - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
New Mexico Water Science Center Sediment Field Program
Sediment is fragmental material transported by, suspended in, or deposited by water or air, or accumulated in beds by other natural agents. Sediment particles range in size from large boulders to colloidal-size fragments and vary in shape from rounded to angular. They also vary in mineral composition and specific gravity. Sediment is derived from a parent material subjected to erosional processes...The Source of Groundwater and Solutes to Many Devils Wash at a Former Uranium Mill Site in Shiprock, New Mexico
The Shiprock Disposal Site is the location of the former Navajo Mill, a uranium ore-processing facility, located on a terrace overlooking the San Juan River in the town of Shiprock, New Mexico.The milling operations, conducted at the site from 1954 to 1968, created radioactive tailings and constituents of concern that are now found in the groundwater beneath the Mill. Elevated concentrations of...Monitoring for Potential Effects of the Gold King Mine Release on Water Quality in the Animas and San Juan Rivers in New Mexico using Continuous Monitors and Automatic Samplers
On August 5, 2015, about three million gallons of water and sediment were released from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek, a tributary of the Animas River. The New Mexico Environment Department, among other State, Tribal, and local entities in CO, NM, and UT, is concerned that metals associated with the water and sediment released from the Gold King Mine could have...