Glacier National Park Fisheries Inventory and Monitoring Annual Report 2008
Downs CC and Stafford C. 2009. Glacier National Park Fisheries Inventory and Monitoring Annual Report 2008. Annual Reports 2009. National Park Service. West Glacier, Montana
We sampled four lakes in Glacier National Park to characterize mercury contamination in various fish species. Lake McDonald, Bowman Lake, and Harrison Lake were sampled on the west side of the park, while St. Mary Lake was sampled on the east side of the park. Lake trout, bull trout, and lake whitefish were tested on the west side of the park, while lake trout, bull trout, lake whitefish and burbot were tested on the east side of the park. Within species, lake trout and lake whitefish were similarly contaminated on both sides of the park. Among species, burbot and lake trout were similarly contaminated and lake whitefish generally had lower mercury concentrations than did lake trout, bull trout, or burbot. Within species comparisons revealed that Glacier National Park lake trout were more contaminated than those from Yellowstone Lake, while comparisons with other area lakes (i.e. Flathead, Swan, Waterton) indicated similar levels of contamination for both lake trout and lake whitefish. Fish consumption guidance was developed for visitors to the park who wish to consume fish caught in Glacier National Park.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Downs, C; Stafford, C
- Date of Issue
- 2009
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ARD , GLAC
- Keywords
- ARD_Park-Air-Info_Collection, Bull Trout, burbot, Contaminants, Deposition, Fisheries, Glacier National Park, Lake Trout, Lake whitefish, Mercury, Native Fisheries, Toxics