Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2013

Weissinger, Rebecca

After three years of sampling for pesticides and wastewater indicators and two years of sampling for pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), patterns of contamination are beginning to emerge in selected locations in Northern Colorado Plateau Network park units. This report presents the results of the sampling conducted in 2013. The Colorado River at the Potash boat ramp, just upstream of Canyonlands National Park, has frequent (>30% of sample visits) detections of the herbicide 2,4-D; caffeine; the insect repellent, DEET; the pesticide degradation product, Metolachlor ESA; and the prescription antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole. A highly visited area in Middle Cave, at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, also has frequent detections of caffeine and DEET, although sample contamination has not been ruled out for this site. The Yampa River, at Deerlodge Park upstream of Dinosaur National Monument, continues to have a wide variety of contaminants of emerging concern detected, although no contaminants have yet been shown to frequently occur. The Fremont River, at the Hickman Bridge trailhead inside Capitol Reef National Park, has relatively few detections. Several PPCPs added to the analytical suite in 2013 occurred frequently at multiple sites, including the prescription drugs, gabapentin (used to treat seizure disorders and bipolar disorders) and metformin (used to treat diabetes). Sampling will continue in 2014 and 2015, with the continuation of surface water sampling and the addition of bed sediment sampling in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey. A final report is expected in 2016.

Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2013

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