Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2014
Weissinger R. 2015. Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2014. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCPN/NRR—2015/1040. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2014, as part of an ongoing screening program for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8, surface waters at 16 locations in and near seven national park units of the Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) were sampled two times for pesticides and pesticide degradation products, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and wastewater indicators. Overall, detection frequencies and concentrations were low, and detections were more frequent in spring (April and May) samples than in fall (September and October) samples. The Colorado River at the Potash boat ramp, just upstream of Canyonlands National Park, had the most analytes detected and continued to show chronic contamination by caffeine, the pesticide 2,4-D, and prescription drugs (gabapentin, lamotrigine, metformin, and sulfamethoxazole). Middle Cave Lake, at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, continued to show chronic contamination by the insect repellent, DEET. Two springs and an intermittent stream at Arches National Park showed surprisingly high numbers and concentrations of analytes relative to the other 15 NCPN sites sampled in 2014. This is an interim report. Sampling will continue in 2015, with the continuation of surfacewater sampling and bed-sediment sampling in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A final report is expected upon completion of the USGS project in 2017.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Weissinger, Rebecca
- Date of Issue
- 2015-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ARCH , BRCA , CANY , CARE , DINO , NCPN , NRSS , TICA , ZION
- Keywords
- CEC analytes, contaminants of emerging concern, NCPN Water Quality Monitoring, Water Quality