In response to historic and proposed mining activities, this study was initiated to establish
baseline water quality and heavy metal concentrations in water, sediments, and fish from
drainages with mining potential or history in Tetlin NWR.
The study objectives were to: 1) Establish permanent monitoring sites, in historic or proposed
mined and reference drainages, on the major streams and rivers of the Tetlin NWR and
determine baseline water quality and trace metal concentrations in water, sediment, and fish at
these sites; and 2) Evaluate the effects of metal concentrations for each site, based on mining
status and underlying geology as indexed by source (glacial or clear water), on Refuge resources
including fish, invertebrates, and their habitats.
