Mercury in Fish and Fish-eating Birds near Sites of Industrial Contamination

Abstract

TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM FLOODS OCCURRING ABOUT ONE TIME EVERY FIFTEEN YEARS, THIS SMALL FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT CONSISTS OF CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. DUE TO THE FLAT TERRAIN, INADEQUATE CHANNEL SIZE, AND RESTRICTIVE BRIDGES AND CULVERTS, FLOOD DISCHARGE FROM THE CREEK AND ITS TRIBUTARIES IS INADEQUATE. BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF FLOOD RELIEF AND IMPROVED DRAINAGE CONTROL, REDUCED FLOODS AND FLOOD DURATION WITH A CONCOMITANT REDUCTION IN POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD CAUSED BY SEWER DISCHARGES AND CONTAMINATED WATER. ADDITIONALLY, NUMEROUS BRIDGES AND CULVERTS WOULD BE RECONSTRUCTED OR MODIFIED TO UPGRADE THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL ROAD SYSTEM WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA. APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES OF STREAM BANK WOULD BE LOST, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE WILDLIFE HABITAT. THERE WOULD BE MODERATE TRAFFIC CONTROL PROBLEMS AND INCREASED TURBIDITY DURING CONSTRUCTION. THE ALTERNATIVES OF NO ACTION, LEVEE CONSTRUCTION, AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE EXISTING PUMPING PLANT WERE CONSIDERED EITHER IMPRACTICAL OR NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. DRAFT STATEMENTS WERE SENT TO FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES; THEIR COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED Source: WESW