Water bodies across the state of California are listed under Clean Water Act section 303(d) as mercury-impaired. Consumption of contaminated fish is the primary pathway of human exposure to mercury, a developmental neurotoxin, and sensitive populations including infants, children, and pregnant women are at greatest risk for exposure. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment […]
Fishing for fun and finding facts was the theme of a family event held at Seaman’s Lodge on Saturday May 21. During the afternoon at Pioneer Park, a family-oriented educational event provided information on which locally caught fish are safe to eat and which are better caught and then released due to high mercury. This event was held in conjunction with the second annual Post It Day volunteer event to post state issued fish consumption advisories at regional water bodies.
Family fishing season is almost here! Bring the whole family to Pioneer Park, on Saturday, May 21 for the first ever Fishing for Fun, A Family Affair, offering games, activities, an ice cream social, and important information about healthy fish consumption for families. The Sierra Fund, South Yuba River Citizens League and Wolf Creek Community […]
Earlier this month, TSF was honored to be invited to make a presentation to California Environmental Legislative Caucus of the State Senate and Assembly on water quality impacts of abandoned mines. Separately, though on the same day, TSF staff also gave a presentation to the Delta Mercury Exposure Reduction Program (MERP) on our experience conducting public outreach about the human exposure potential to legacy mining pollution in the Sierra. We are thrilled that the abandoned mine and mercury issues in the Sierra are getting the attention they deserve from statewide leaders, and the TSF’s outreach efforts around mercury in the Sierra are proving a useful model for other regions in the State.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers Michael Singer, Lee Harrison and colleagues from the University of Michigan has identified how flooding frequency and duration affect mercury biogeochemistry along a 40-mile stretch of the Yuba/Feather River system. They found that about 5 percent of the total mercury in this lower section has the potential to become toxic. Their research appears in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Environmental Working Group’s new study of over 250 women indicates that “US fish advice may expose babies to too much mercury.” EWG’s newly completed study enrolled 254 women who eat at least two meals of seafood, fish or shellfish every week and measured the amount of mercury in their hair to assess how much mercury was in their bodies. EWG’s study found that almost 30 percent of their participants had too much mercury exposure according to Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for pregnant women.
The Sierra Fund was excited to see that Governor Brown’s proposed budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year includes funding allocated specifically for addressing hazardous materials remaining from historic mining activities at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. The proposed funding in the Governor’s budget would allow the project to continue to move forward to gather data on cultural resources and environmental assessment, to ensure that proposed solution(s) both protect the park’s fantastic historic legacy, which earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and also address contamination remaining from historic mine operations.
Last week Dr. Monohan, Science Director at The Sierra Fund and Chico State Adjunct Professor, participated in a three day workshop in Sacramento at the Cal EPA building to update the 2003 Mercury Strategy for the Bay-Delta Ecosystem. The first day of the workshop focused on Sources of Mercury, the second on Biogeochemistry of Mercury, […]
On July 11, teams of volunteers organized by the South Yuba River Citizens League, The Sierra Fund and the Wolf Creek Community Alliance traveled to popular fishing locations and posted 98 fish consumption advisory signs. This was the first time these state-issued fish consumption guidelines had ever been posted at these water bodies. Anglers now have the information they need to make smart decisions on what fish are safe to eat and feed to their families.
Volunteer to post fish consumption advisories at local lakes and reservoirs: Saturday, July 11, 2015, 9am~5pm (Ending times will vary). The Sierra Fund, in collaboration with South Yuba River Citizens League and Wolf Creek Community Alliance, is organizing a community volunteer effort to post state-issued fish consumption advisories at local lakes and reservoirs, and we need your help! Help us post educational signage to give anglers the best information regarding healthy choices on sport fish consumption, specifically which fish caught from these water bodies are best for eating, and feeding their families.
The Sierra Fund is pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program to increase awareness of Sierra anglers about mercury in fish. Working with South Yuba River Citizens League, Wolf Creek Community Alliance, and local volunteers, we will lead a community effort that will result in state-issued fish consumption guidelines posted at public access points of popular fishing lakes and reservoirs.
Environmental Working Group and Mercury Policy Project are studying mercury exposures for American women. The project is seeking to enroll 200 to 400 women who eat seafood frequently, and a comparison group of women who eat little or no seafood. Study participants will be asked to provide a small sample of hair for analysis, and […]
