- This event has passed.
The Sierra Fund Presents: Headwater Mercury Source Reduction Fall Workshop
November 12, 2020 @ 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Fall Workshop
November 12th, 9:30 – 3:00 pm
A VIRTUAL EVENT FOCUSED ON MERCURY-CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT IN RESERVOIRS AND MERCURY EXPOSURE VIA FISH CONSUMPTION
About the Workshop:
The Fall 2020 Headwater Mercury Source Reduction (HMSR) Workshop will be held virtually on November 12, 2020. This free, web-based workshop is focused on our regional HMSR Strategy to abate the impacts of mercury- from the Sierra to the sea. The fall HMSR Workshop will include a day of technical presentations on projects to address the issue of mercury contamination in Sierra waterbodies and the associated issue of mercury in locally caught fish. Click the link here to learn more, and click the link here to register for this free virtual event!
Keep reading to learn about our exciting keynote speaker, California Secretary for Environmental Protection, Jared Blumenfeld!
Two of TSF’s four strategic targets for addressing headwater sources of mercury will be explored at the Workshop:
- Mercury-Contaminated Sediment in Reservoirs: Sediment transported off of hydraulic mines is captured behind reservoirs, necessitating ongoing maintenance. Sediment can take up valuable water storage space in reservoirs and cause water quality impacts. Best available technologies to address reservoir sedimentation and remove mercury-contaminated sediment from reservoirs will be discussed and statewide applicability of approaches debated.
- Mercury Exposure via Fish Consumption: Consumption of mercury contaminated fish is the primary pathway of human exposure to the neurotoxin methylmercury. In 2019 AB 762 was signed into law, representing the most significant step toward protecting public health from contaminated fish to date. Beginning in 2020, AB 762 requires the posting of state-issued site-specific fish consumption advisories at water bodies where they apply. The opportunities and challenges of this new law will be debated by state public health experts and county-level staff charged with implementation.
Announcing our Keynote Speaker!
Jared Blumenfeld,
California Secretary for Environmental Protection
Jared Blumenfeld, California Secretary for Environmental Protection, will be giving a keynote address on Water Policy in California at our HMSR workshop this fall. Blumenfeld signed on as our keynote after interviewing TSF’s CEO Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin about the impacts of the California Gold Rush on his podcast, PodShip Earth.
As Secretary, Jared oversees the state’s efforts to fight climate change, protect air and water quality, regulate pesticides and toxic substances, achieve the state’s recycling and waste reduction goals, and advance environmental justice. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises the Governor on environmental policy.
Jared is one of America’s most innovative environmental leaders, bringing to the agency more than 25 years of environmental policy and management experience at the local, national and international levels. Click here to read his full bio on CalEPA’s website.
Spring HMSR Workshop a Success!
The fall HMSR workshop builds upon the success of our first HMSR workshop held this Spring on May 14, 2020.
Click here to view a selection of presentation from the HMSR Spring Workshop.
Two of TSF’s four strategic targets for addressing headwater sources of mercury were explored at the Workshop:
- Hydraulic Mines and Mine Features: Hydraulic mines and mine features include denuded landscapes prone to erosion and tunnels once used as sluices. These features continue to be sources of mercury-contaminated sediment to streams and rivers. Experts will discuss methods to inventory, rank and prioritize, and remediate mercury sources in the headwaters.
- Mercury in Forest and Land Management: Multi-benefit forest health projects include hydraulic mine remediation to reduce erosion of sediment and mercury from mine-scarred lands. The chemical and physical hazards associated with legacy hydraulic mines add a new dimension to traditional forest management practices. Experts will discuss federal land management objectives and how they interface with mercury fate and transport, forest health, and fuels reduction.
