The spokane tribe of indians (STI) will use this funding to build on the existing upper columbia basin contaminant status, movement and remedial pilot study

This project is complementary to the work being done in the columbia river mainstem fish tissue and water quality monitoring framework study led by the yakama nation and caring for SN#787; X#780;#695; N#787; TK#695; ITK#695; (colville salish word for the columbia river) fish tissue study led by the confederated tribes of the colville reservation (CTCR). STI will add to the scope and duration of their current work to conduct multi-media sampling in the upper columbia river basin (UCRB). This includes adding the collection and analysis of additional sample matrices and extending the duration of the work by an additional three years.activities:the proposed project will monitor a suite of priority contaminants of concern (COCS) across several media including surface water, bottom sediments, suspended sediments, crayfish, and tree swallow eggs. The primary goals of the study are to: 1) build on the current one-year contaminant sampling project and extend sampling efforts for an additional three years, 2) expand the scope of the current sampling project to include additional sample media to help track contaminant movement and trends in the upper columbia river basin (UCRB) over time, and 3) lay the groundwork for a long-term monitoring program that can continue beyond the three-year duration of this grant funding period.subrecipient:there are two subawards are anticipated: the US fish and wildlife service ($62,500) and the US geological survey ($30,000). The US fish and wildlife service has committed to serving as a partner on this project and overseeing the planning and collection of tree swallow eggs and providing general support on study design, sample collection, data analysis and reporting. The US geological survey has also committed to serving as a partner on this project to support study design, data analysis and reporting. Outcomes:the anticipated outputs consist of collecting 30 water samples, 30 bottom sediment samples, 30 suspended samples, 30 crayfish samples, and 90 tree swallow EGG samples. The anticipated outcomes consist of determination of metals, mercury, cations, anions, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) aroclors, and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations at a variety of sampling locations; evaluation of crayfish as a pathway for contaminants to enter the columbia and spokane river food web and to identify contaminant concentrations and trends; and evaluation of tree swallow eggs in the transfer of contaminants from emergent aquatic insects into the riparian food web and to inform potential exposure of salmon and other fish feeding on emergent insects. The intended beneficiaries include the spokane tribe of indians and communities that surround and utilize the areas around the upper columbia river, including lake roosevelt, and the spokane river.