Idaho Environmental Forum #158
Mercury Pollution in Idaho Waters

SPEAKERS

Justin Hayes is the Program Director with the Idaho Conservation League.  Mr. Hayes did groundbreaking work to bring mercury emissions from Nevada gold mines to the attention of environmental regulators and the public.

Martin Bauer is the Administrator of the Air Quality Bureau of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.  He is grappling with the unusual challenge of dealing with an air pollutant that affects water quality.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

All across Idaho, state health officials are finding surprisingly high levels of mercury in wild fish populations.  Mercury has long been known to be a dangerous toxin, particularly for pregnant women and young children.  The State of Idaho has now issued health advisories warning anglers to limit their consumption of fish from many of Idaho’s best known waters, ranging from Silver Creek to Brownlee Reservoir.  It is increasingly clear that a significant source of this fish contamination is actually airborne pollution from over-the-horizon sources.

What can be done to control mercury in our streams and lakes?  We will hear from two environmental professionals deeply engaged in answering this question.