The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation received a $200,000 Project Grant under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Geographic Programs - Columbia River Basin Restoration (CRBR) Program (CFDA 66.962). The funding will support a multi-year study to assess the influence of mining-associated waste streams on contaminant exposure patterns and the health of burbot (Lota lota), a culturally significant sport fish species, in the upper Columbia River basin.
Key activities include:
- Collecting and analyzing burbot tissue samples from Washington's Lake Roosevelt and a nearby reference lake to measure metal(loid) concentrations, including arsenic, selenium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc.
- Evaluating wild burbot health through physiological biomarkers and histological analysis to quantify potential impacts from anthropogenic stressors.
- Comparing findings across the Columbia River and Kootenai River basins.
The project will leverage expertise from sub-awardees including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, University of Montana, and University of Connecticut. Outcomes are intended to improve understanding of how contaminants influence burbot health and inform efforts to protect and restore the Columbia River ecosystem.
Generated 3/4/25, 7:50 AM