Analysis of young fish taken from Gruber’s Grove Bay on Lake Wisconsin show slightly higher levels of mercury compared to similar fish taken from a different location on Lake Wisconsin. However, levels in both groups of fish are within the same range for mercury as young fish tested across the state, according to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) release issued today.
Water from the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant’s wastewater treatment facility was discharged into Gruber’s Grove Bay during the plant’s years of operation. In the 1990s, high levels of mercury and other contaminants were discovered in bay sediments as a result of the discharge.
“Higher levels of mercury in sediments in the bay may be a factor but other variables might be involved too, including fish growth rates and water temperature differences between the bay and Lake Wisconsin,” said WDNR biologist Jim Amrhein.
Biologists sampled young panfish (primarily one year of age or younger) from the bay as part of an effort to monitor cleanup efforts by the military.
The Army dredged sediments from the bay in 2002 and again in 2006 to remove mercury and other contaminants. Following the second dredging project, the WDNR still found high concentrations of mercury in the sediment. The department collected panfish from the bay in 2012 to see if there was any significant accumulation of mercury in fish inhabiting the bay following the dredging.
Young panfish were selected because these fish generally remain in the area where they hatched until they grow to larger sizes. Any mercury found in these fish could be assumed to come from the environment in Gruber’s Grove Bay.
“While the study can’t say definitively what caused the higher mercury in the bay fish, the department and the Army remain committed to working on the site,”Amrhein said.
Gruber’s Grove is still listed as an “open site” in the U.S. Army’s clean-up effort for Badger. Results of the study have been shared with the Army which currently is working on plans for further work necessary to achieve site closure.
“We expect that the Army will present a final clean-up plan for the bay soon,” said Amrhein. “The public will have a chance to comment on the plan and the department will prepare a formal response including consideration of any public comments.”
The Gruber’s Grove Bay study was undertaken as part of the WDNR’s efforts to monitor cleanup. It was not part of the state’s fish consumption advisory monitoring program, WDNR said.
However biologists did sample game fish and panfish from other locations in Lake Wisconsin and the Wisconsin River between Wisconsin Dells and Prairie du Sac in 2012 as part of the state’s fish consumption advisory monitoring program. Based on results of this survey sample there will be no changes to mercury-based consumption advice for persons consuming fish from these waters.
WDNR Grubers Grove Bay Panfish Mercury Study 2012
For more information, the contacts at WDNR are:
Jim Amrhein, Water Resources Management Specialist, james.amrhein@dnr.state.wi.us or phone (608) 275-3280
Bob Manwell, Natural Resources Educator, robert.manwell@wisconsin.gov or phone (608) 275-3317