News - Local
No fishing in Juniata Reservoir due to mercury
Posted: Feb 22, 2010 10:08 AM by Associated Press
Updated: Feb 22, 2010 10:08 AM
A reservoir that provides drinking water for Grand Junction is closed for fishing because smallmouth bass there have tested positive for mercury contamination.
Steve Gunderson, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's water quality division, says the mercury levels in Juniata Reservoir are extremely low, but mercury accumulates in fish.
He says state health officials are meeting with city officials about keeping the reservoir off a list of bodies of water that don't meet water quality standards, if they can get rid of all contaminated fish or isolate the reservoir.
The city says the bass are not a resident species and were illegally stocked there by an unknown person.
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