The Missisquoi River:

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The Missisquoi River

• Landlocked Atlantic Salmon Management and
  Methylmercury
• Chris Remsen

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Samuel de Champlain

• Reputed to have been the first European to view
  what is now Vermont, Champlain entered the lake
  on the fourteenth of July, 1609. Narrative
  published as Voyages in 1613.

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The Missisquoi River

• Drainage of surface waters in the Northern Green
  Mountains to Lake Champlain.

• High mountains, cold winters, and short growing
  season have produced one of the least populated
  regions of the state.

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The Missisquoi River

• The biogeography of the region kept this
  ecosystem isolated and undisturbed.

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The Abenaki

• People of the Dawn, the original inhabitants of
  Vermont, prior to Samuel de Champlain.

• Settlement of Missisquoi River fishing village
  prior to Samuel de Champlain.

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The Abenaki

• Cultural fishing traditions ceremonial meals are
  central features of funerals, memorials,
  name-giving rituals, and weddings. Subsistence
  is another factor.

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Methylmercury

• The Westerly winds disperse Mercury particulates
  from coal burning power plants. Methylation
  occurs after wet and dry deposition.
  Bioacculmulation occurs through food chains via
  tissue.

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Methlymercury

• Nearly 90 absorption in the GI tract.

• Readily crosses the placental and blood brain
  barriers. Neurotoxicity from low dose exposure
  to the adult and fetus.

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VT Dept. of Fish Wildlife

• People management issue fish consumption
  advisories.

• Fisheries Restock salmon population on annual
  basis.

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VT Dept. of Fish Wildlife

• Focused on output of methlymercury through
  consumption rather than input from particulates.

• Replace reproductive adults salmon with juveniles
  to maintain population for anglers. Limited
  genetic variability.

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EPA

• Clear Skies Legislation establish cap and
  emissions trading for mercury.

• Purchase of pollution credits rather than
  reducing their emissions through scrubbers and
  bag-houses.

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Coal Burning Power Plants

• Largest single source of anthropogenic emissions
  at over 40 of the total anthropogenic load.

• The Southern Company, American Electric Power,
  Edison International, and Tennessee Valley
  Authority produce 20 of all mercury pollution in
  the US.

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Issues

• The human health risk should justify a call for
  action at the state and federal levels to reduce
  mercury emissions.

• Where is the discourse? Who is the audience?
  This topic must amplify from the scientific
  community to the general public.

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Issues

• VT Dept of Fish Wildlife must address input
  through deposition to create real mercury risk
  reduction.

• EPA must pursue a regulatory solution rather than
  cap and trade emissions through Clear Skies
  legislation.

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Issues

• Coal burning power companies reduction in profit
  to reduce emissions and human health risk.

• Abenaki increased awareness of human health risk
  from fish consumption until a sustainable healthy
  salmon population can be restored.

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The Charge

• The 400 anniversary of Samuel de Champlains
  voyage quickly approaches. Will the health and
  sustainability of this ecosystem be restored?