 |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 3, 2007 |
CONTACT Mark W. Salley Tim Holeman |
State Officials Announce Fish Consumption Advisories at Two Larimer County Lakes. Horseshoe Lake (Walsenburg) advisory updatedDENVER - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Division of Wildlife today announced two fish consumption advisories for Boyd Lake and Carter Lake due to elevated mercury levels detected in fish tissue samples collected at these water bodies. Both lakes are in Larimer County. The fish tissue testing is part of an ongoing, five-year sampling plan of approximately 120 water bodies in the state. These postings followed state laboratory results on fish tissue samples completed on 19 additional water bodies. More than 50 water bodies now have lab testing completed as part of the study. Of those, 17 (about one-third) have required fish consumption advisories for mercury. These are listed on the state's Web site along with two other water bodies that are not part of the mercury study, but were posted for other parameters: Sweitzer (selenium) and Willow Springs Ponds (perchlor oethylene). The fish consumption advisories can be found at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/FishCon/FishCon.html. New results from April include 16 water bodies where fish consumption advisories for mercury are not needed: Chambers Reservoir, Chartier Reservoir, Colorado River, Fountain Lake, Fort Morgan Ponds, Hugo Middle Pond, Jumbo Reservoir, Kinney Lake, Lonetree Reservoir, North Delaney, Union, Overland Reservoir, Pawnee Power Ponds, Runyon Lake, San Isabel and Yampa River. In addition to the two new Larimer County lake postings, the fish consumption advisory for Horseshoe Reservoir near Walsenburg is being updated for sauger and smallmouth bass. [Details below.] According to state officials, routine sampling and analysis by the department and the Division of Wildlife have shown some fish species at Boyd and Carter lakes exceed the mercury action level of 0.5 parts per million set by the health department. The presence of elevated mercury levels in fish has been a national concern for some time. The fish consumption advisories are a caution to the public and not mandatory. Mercury poisoning can affect humans of all ages. However, pregnant women and children under age 6 are especially susceptible, because mercury can harm developing nervous systems in fetuses and young children. Adults exposed to high mercury levels also can suffer from central nervous system and cardiovascular problems. Each fish consumption advisory includes consumption recommendations in three categories: for the general population; children age 6 and younger; and women who are pregnant, nursing or who may become pregnant. Boyd Lake - The fish consumption advisory posted for Boyd Lake recommends that children age 6 or younger do not consume any walleye larger than 29 inches. For pregnant women, nursing women and women who plan on becoming pregnant, the recommendation is the same: not to consume walleye larger than 29 inches. For the general population, the recommendation is not to consume more than one meal per month of walleye larger than 29 inches. Carter Lake - The fish consumption advisory posted for Carter Lake recommends that children age 6 or younger do not consume any walleye. For pregnant women, nursing women and women who plan on becoming pregnant, the advice is not to consume any walleye larger than 24 inches in length and not more than one meal a month of walleye smaller that 24 inches. For the general population, the recommendation is not to consume more than one meal per month of walleye larger than 18 inches or more than two meals per month of walleye smaller than 18 inches. Horseshoe Reservoir (updated) - The fish consumption advisory posted for Horseshoe Reservoir recommends that children age 6 or younger do not consume smallmouth bass larger than 8 inches in length or sauger larger than 18 inches in length. For pregnant women, nursing women and women who plan on becoming pregnant, the advice also is not to consume any smallmouth bass larger than 8 inches in length or sauger larger than 18 inches in length. For the general population, the recommendation is not to consume more than one meal per month of smallmouth bass larger than 8 inches or sauger larger than 18 inches. ---30--- |
|