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Subject:	Monthly Newsletter
From:	"CIEA Environmental Chronicle: Vol. 1, Issue 23, April 2021" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:	TRIBAL NCRP-CIEA <[log in to unmask]>
Date:	Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:12:20 -0400
Content-Type:	multipart/alternative
Parts/Attachments:	text/plain (49 kB) , text/html (115 kB)

View in Browser:
http://list.ciea-health.org/scripts/wa-CIEAH.exe?A2=CIEA_LIST_TRIBAL_NCRP;1d72ee23.2103p

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CIEA Environmental Chronicle - Vol. 1, Issue 23, April 2021

Monthly news of environmental issues affecting Indigenous Peoples

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1. Opening Remarks- Every Day is Earth Day!

The CIEA staff would like to take the opportunity to honour the various protectors and stewards of grandmother earth! We acknowledge and recognize the work Indigenous folxs do for our communities, our lands, and our peoples. We know every day is earth day!

The CIEA office is physically closed until April 30th due to the 'shelter in place' directive. The purpose is so we can evaluate if there’s any increased cases in the counties where CIEA staff live and work. Of course if the situation changes we will have to adjust our plan. We will continue to work remotely and are available via email and through our phone, where messages are checked daily.

We do want to take the time to continue to love, protect, cherish, and care for one another, especially our elders, folxs who are immunocompromised, as well as our essential workers including medical staff, grocery store workers, etc.

We also advise that folxs to stay safe, be prepared, and that we are here for you all.

Again, we are so happy to be able to provide you with monthly announcements about training, capacity building, Tribal Self-Advocacy and funding opportunities, as well as water related news. Readers are more than welcome to send information about upcoming events, training, or news that you think would be beneficial for other Tribal members in other regions to know to our Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, Joel Sedano at [log in to unmask]

2. Tribal Engagement Opportunity- The Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) Safer Consumer Products Program (SCP) on 6PPD in Storm Water Runoff’s Impact on Coho Salmon

The Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) Safer Consumer Products Program (SCP) is working to investigate potential acute impacts to coho salmon from 6PPD in storm water runoff. Groundbreaking research in Washington State has shown that a chemical used as a preservative in tires (6PPD) can be released into the aquatic environment and form a byproduct that is acutely toxic to coho salmon at very low levels. It may also be
toxic to other fish and aquatic organisms, although more research and observations are needed to determine this. The Washington State research showed that tiny pieces of tire are abraded while driving and braking and are laden with this toxic chemical. Rain washes these particles into creeks where coho spawn and their young spend a year before they migrate to the ocean. This 6PPD byproduct has caused mass die-offs of pre-spawn coho in urban creeks in the Puget Sound area. DTSC’s 6PPD team is now researching if similar impacts to coho salmon have been observed in California.

The SCP program uses a four-step process to reduce toxic chemicals in the products that consumers buy and use. SCP identifies specific products that contain potentially harmful chemicals and asks manufacturers to answer two questions: 1) Is this chemical necessary? 2) Is there a safer alternative? The 6PPD project is in the Step 2 of this process, where the project team has identified a product that contains one of the candidate chemicals from
Step 1.

Additional information on the SCP Program and the 6PPD Project can be found at the links
below:
• DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products program and process: DTSC SCP Website
• Washington State University Video on 6PPD in Tires: Worn Tires Contribute to Chemical that Kills Coho Salmon
• Coho Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome in Puget Sound Training for Community
Scientists: Story Map
• SFEI Article

The DTSC recognizes that this work may have a large impact to, and be meaningful for, tribal communities. We seek to collaborate with California Native Tribes in these efforts. If you, your tribe, or your organization is interested in a meeting to learn more or attending a listening session so we can learn more, we very much look forward to hearing from you. Please contact the 6PPD Tribal Affairs Coordinator, Patricia Moran at [log in to unmask], 916-720-2894, or at 1001 “I” Street, Sacramento, CA 95812. We deeply value the opportunity to engage with Tribes on these statewide initiatives and look forward to hearing from you.

Funding Opportunity- Fire Prevention Grants Program- Due May 19, 2021 at 3PM PDT

Through the California Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant Program, CAL FIRE aims to reduce the risk of wildland fires to habitable structures and communities, while maximizing carbon sequestration in healthy wildland habitat and minimizing the uncontrolled release of emissions emitted by wildfires.

Project Types and Activities – The three qualifying projects and activities include those related to hazardous fuel reduction and removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees, fire prevention planning, and fire prevention education. Examples of qualifying projects and activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Hazardous Fuel Reduction
2) Fire Prevention Education
3) Fire Prevention Planning

For more information, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the Cal Fire website where the grant information is housed.

READ MORE:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/fire-prevention-grants/

4. Public Comment Opportunity-California's Groundwater - Update 2020 and Groundwater: Understanding and Managing this Vital Resource storymap- due April 26, 2021

The Department of Water Resources will be releasing the public review draft of California’s Groundwater Update 2020 (Bulletin 118) on March 11, 2021. The release of the document will be accompanied by an updated California’s Groundwater Webpage, which will include links to current and historical California’s Groundwater documents, data sets used in California’s Groundwater, basin reports and GIS data, and a new interactive data viewer dashboard called “California’s Groundwater Online”.

The release of California’s Groundwater Update 2020 will start a 45-day public comment period, and the method for submitting comments to DWR is described on the web site. The comments will help DWR improve and finalize the final California’s Groundwater Update 2020 document, expected to be released this summer.
We have provided this information to give you some advance notice that the release of California’s Groundwater Update 2020 is coming this week. We’ve appreciated meeting with you and your NGO team and the feedback you’ve provided during the development of this document. We encourage you to read the draft update and provide any comments you may have. We also look forward to continuing our collaboration with you in the future as we finalize California’s Groundwater Update 2020 and begin scoping Update 2025.

Thank you for your continued interest in California’s Groundwater. If you have any questions, please contact me at [log in to unmask]

For more information, you can hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Bulletin-118

5. Recommended Reading- "GOOD FIRE: Current Barriers to the Expansion of Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire in California and Recommended Solutions"

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2020, over four percent of California burned in wildfire. Over 30 people lost their lives in the fires; experts estimate an additional 3,000 premature deaths may have resulted from wildfire smoke. Property damage is expected to top $10 billion and related greenhouse gas emissions erased California’s progress on climate change. Cultural burning and prescribed fire are essential tools
in managing these impacts, restoring California’s fire-adapted ecosystems, and repairing the fraught relationship between California, its Indigenous peoples, and stewardship of the landscape. Based on the direct experiences of cultural fire practitioners and other burners, Good Fire explores the legal and policy underpinnings of current barriers to expanding the scope of intentional fire in California. From there, the paper identifies legislative,
regulatory, and policy solutions. While individuals and agencies have made good progress, far more work is needed if intentional fire is going to have a significant impact on the wildfire-related challenges California faces. The time to act is now.

Recognizing the long-standing role of Tribes and cultural fire practitioners in stewarding California’s landscape, the paper begins by exploring the unique barriers they face. Cultural fire practitioners look to the laws of nature to understand when, where, and how to burn.

However, California’s extensive regulation of intentional fire—including air quality permits, burn permits, and environmental review—can significantly interfere with Tribal sovereignty over the practice. California and its agencies must do a better job of recognizing Tribal jurisdiction and ceding control over cultural burning and cultural fire practitioners. Moreover, both state and federal agencies lack an adequate understanding of Tribes and cultural fire practitioners, their expertise and authority, land tenure, and the requirements of cultural burns, leading to confusion, delay, and red-tape. Agencies must invest more in relationships with Tribes and cultural fire practitioners to overcome these obstacles. Next, the paper addresses the complex federal and state regulation of air quality and smoke. Burners and cultural fire practitioners report that air quality permitting prevents or curtails the use of intentional fire. The paper explores multiple routes for recognizing that intentional fire and its related smoke impacts are part of California’s air quality baseline, including through the Exceptional Events
rule, expansion of the Regional Haze Rule, and a shifting in prioritization among different sources of smoke and other air pollution to favor public purpose burning. It also recognizes the real public health impacts that may result from intentional fire, and makes recommendations for mitigating such impacts. Finally, the paper recommends relatively minor changes in implementation—such as increased expertise, changes in permit formats, and reduction in fees—that could have outsized benefits for burners.

The paper then turns to CAL FIRE’s efforts to regulate the potential public safety impacts of intentional fire through its burn permit program. Again, burners report that CAL FIRE permitting prevents or curtails the use of intentional fire. The agency’s discretionary approach prevents private burns when CAL FIRE’s resources are constrained or potentially constrained by suppression activities. Legislative and regulatory modifications to the permitting system would begin to address these concerns.

The related issues of liability and insurance are then discussed. California’s simple negligence standard continues to impede widespread adoption of intentional fire practices, even after the modifications made in 2018 to tie a showing of due diligence to CAL FIRE permit compliance. As in four other states, the legislature should amend the public resources code to adopt a broad gross negligence standard. Likewise, the collapse of the insurance market for intentional fire activities—due in part to the uncertainties caused by California’s simple negligence standard—has become a significant
impediment to private burning in recent years. The state must step in to provide some assurances to organizations and private burners engaged in public purpose burning that the rare escaped burn will not cause financial ruin.

Next, the paper evaluates the impact of environmental review on the use of intentional fire. When state or local agencies are involved—including through funding, planning, or inclusion of public land—they must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. Though CAL FIRE has invested significant resources in streamlining environmental review for prescribed fire, burners still report that environmental review is time-consuming and expensive, and results in little or no additional environmental benefit. Further efforts to exempt intentional burns (while continuing to protect important resources and sensitive receptors), or streamline environmental review that must occur, are warranted.

Finally, attention must be paid to other “softer” barriers, including long-standing agency culture and a lack of resources. Burners report ongoing hesitancy among some agency staff to engage in intentional burning, which is seen as both risky and outside of the core mission of agencies long directed to engage in suppression at all cost. Likewise, a lack of financial and human resources reduces the scope of intentional fire activities. Particular attention must be paid to addressing risk aversion, rewarding intentional fire activities, and developing both the human and financial capital necessary to burn on the scale necessary to protect California’s ecosystems and
public health. -("Executive Summary", Karuk Tribe)

For the report in its entirety, please hit the read more button where you will be redirected to CIEA's website where a copy of the report lives. Subsequently, you can also visit https://karuktribeclimatechangeprojects.com/good-fire/ to see the Executive Summary and Final Good Fire report.

READ MORE:
http://www.ciea-health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Karuk-Prescribed-Fire-Rpt_FINAL.pdf

6. Tribal Consultation Opportunity: Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use in Fish Advisories, Volume 4 Risk Communication- due July 15, 2021

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Indian Tribes and requesting comments on guidance for assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisories, volume 4 risk communication.

The tribal consultation letter, consultation and coordination plan, and supplemental information are attached. Please be advised that the attached consultation information has been sent electronically in lieu of postal mail due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and, therefore, it is the only formal announcement that you will receive pertaining to the EPA’s initiation of tribal consultation and coordination on guidance for assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisories, volume 4 risk communication. This consultation and coordination will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes. In addition, the EPA acknowledges that tribes are experiencing operational impacts due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and is taking this into consideration as we continue to work collaboratively to address environmental issues.

The EPA is holding an informational webinar for tribes on April 14, 2021, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. You can register for the webinar here.

For additional information, please see the attached tribal consultation letter and plan, and supplemental information. These consultation materials are also available in EPA’s Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) website located at: https://tcots.epa.gov.

Tribes will have until July 15, 2021 to provide comment on this action.

For any questions, please contact Sharon Frey with EPA Office of Water’s Office of Science and Technology by email at [log in to unmask] or by phone at 202-566-1480.

7. Recommended Audio- Public Affairs Special: Bay Protectors Skeptical About Biofuel Refinery Ploy

San Francisco Baykeeper staff attorney Ben Eichenberg joins KMUD to speak with host Gary Hughes of Biofuelwatch about the threats to California marine environments from the oil industry and the risks of the proposed conversions of refineries to biofuels. Learn more at: www.baykeeper.org

To listen to the audio, please hit the read more button.

READ MORE:
https://soundcloud.com/kmudnews/public-affairs-special-bay-protectors-skeptical-about-biofuel-refinery-ploy

8. Recommended Audio- Terra Verde – Environmental Review Process Begins for Proposed Marathon Martinez Refinery Conversion to Biofuels

A Terra Verde report on the initiation of the environmental review process for the proposed Marathon Martinez refinery conversion to biofuels features an interview with Matt Krogh of the organization Stand.Earth discussing the dynamics of fossil fuel industry shifts to bioenergy.

To listen to the audio, please hit the read more button.

READ MORE:
https://kpfa.org/episode/terra-verde-march-19-2021/

9. Recommended Reading- Long-term trends in regional wet mercury deposition and lacustrine mercury concentrations in four lakes in Voyageurs National Park

Abstract:

Although anthropogenic mercury (Hg) releases to the environment have been substantially lowered in the United States and Canada since 1990, concerns remain for contamination in fish from remote lakes and rivers where atmospheric deposition is the predominant source of mercury. How have aquatic ecosystems responded? We report on one of the longest known multimedia data sets for mercury in atmospheric deposition: aqueous total mercury (THgaq), methylmercury (MeHgaq), and sulfate from epilimnetic lake-water samples from four lakes in Voyageurs National Park (VNP) in northern Minnesota; and total mercury (THg) in aquatic biota from the same lakes from 2001–2018. Wet Hg deposition at two regional Mercury Deposition Network sites (Fernberg and Marcell, Minnesota) decreased by an average of 22 percent from 1998–2018; much of the decreases occurred prior to 2009, with relatively flat trends since 2009. In the four VNP lakes, epilimnetic MeHgaq concentrations declined by an average of 44 percent and THgaq by an average of 27 percent. For the three lakes with long-term biomonitoring, temporal patterns in biotic THg concentrations were similar to patterns in MeHgaq concentrations; however, biotic THg concentrations declined significantly in only one lake. Epilimnetic MeHgaq may be responding both to a decline in atmospheric Hg deposition as well as a decline in sulfate deposition, which is an important driver of mercury methylation in the environment. Results from this case study suggest that regional- to continental-scale decreases in both mercury and sulfate emissions have benefitted aquatic resources, even in the face of global increases in mercury emissions.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70218257

10. Funding Opportunity- Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) – Fiscal Year 2021-22: Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment (Formally Volunteer Fire
Assistance Program)

CAL FIRE is soliciting applications from fire departments in rural areas and
communities with a population of 10,000 or less, for awards under the Rural Fire Capacity (RFC) Program of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The application can be found online at the CAL FIRE public website under the Grants page, https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/.

The funding level for California in Fiscal Year 2021-22 has not been determined at this time. However, historical funding levels for RFC are approximately $1,000,000. In order to ensure timely consideration, completed applications must be submitted no later than May 4, 2021. Applications must be submitted electronically, there will be no hard copy submission.

CAL FIRE anticipates completion of the application review process by August 2021.
Successful applicants must complete their approved project(s) using local funds between the Agreement Approval Date and June 30, 2022; then bill CAL FIRE within the award agreement period in order to receive the award. The award will not cover expenditures made prior to the date of final signature on the agreement or after June 30, 2022.

READ MORE:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/programs/fire-protection/cooperative-efforts/

11. Recommended Reading- Determination of Pharmaceuticals, Heavy Metals, and Oxysterols in Fish Muscle

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the levels of 98 multi-class pharmaceuticals including cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants, hypnotics, antibiotics, and sulfonamides occurring in the muscle tissue of fish caught in the Baltic Sea. The following fish species were collected: perch (Perca fluviatilis); flounder (Platichthys flesus); turbot (Scophthalmus maximus); plaice (Pleuronectes platessa); cod (Gadus morhua callarias); bream (Abramis brama); crucian (Carassius carassius). Additionally, in the examined fish muscle the levels of heavy metals and trace elements were determined (As; Ag; Au; Ba; Cd; Co; Cr; Cu; Hg; Li; Mo; Ni; Pb; Sb; Se; Sn; Tl; V) as well as the levels of cholesterol and its 5 derivatives (7-ketocholesterol; 7α-hydroxycholesterol; 7β-hydroxycholesterol; 5β,6β-epoxy-cholesterol; 5α,6α-epoxycholesterol). In the performed studies 11 out of 98 examined pharmaceuticals were detected in fish muscle. The levels of pharmaceuticals in fish muscle varied depending on the species. In the tissues of bream and crucian, no pharmaceuticals were found. Mercury, lead and arsenic were detected in the muscles of all examined fish. Based on the hazard factor for Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni (target hazard quotient, THQ < 1), it was found that the consumption of the studied fish does not constitute a health risk. However, the THQ for As remained >1 indicated possible risk from those metals. In the examined fish muscle the total cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) level of oxysterols were, respectively: 6.90 (cod) μg/g-4.18 μg/g (perch), which corresponded to 0.7-1.5% of cholesterol. The main COPs evaluated were 7-ketocholesterol (0.78 ± 0.14-1.79 ± 0.06 μg/g), 7β-hydroxycholesterol (0.50 ± 0.04-3.20 ± 2.95 μg/g) and 5β,6β-epoxycholesterol (0.66 ± 0.03-1.53 ± 0.66 μg/g). The assessment of health hazards due to contaminations is necessary, which may help to introduce national legislation and global standards aimed at reducing or even eliminating the exposure to contaminants.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33668999/

12. Funding Opportunity- Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in California

What does this program do?

This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

Who may apply?

Most state and local governmental entities
Nonprofit organizations
Federally recognized tribes
What kind of event can qualify as an emergency?

Drought or flood
Earthquake
Tornado or hurricane
Disease outbreak
Chemical spill, leak or seepage
Other disasters
NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses
Tribal lands in rural areas
Colonias
The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas. Contact your local RD office for details.

How may the funds be used?

Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply
Water source grants up to $1,000,000 are to construct a water source, intake or treatment facility
Are matching funds required?

Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities are encouraged
How do we get started?

Applications for this program are accepted year round,
online at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply or through your local RD office.
Program resources are available online (forms, guidance, certifications, etc.).
Who can answer questions?

Staff in your local RD office
Participating nonprofit associations
What governs this program?

Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR 1778
Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps prevent damage or restore households and business' access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.

For more information, please hit the read more button to be redirected to the USDA website where the grant information is housed.

READ MORE:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/emergency-community-water-assistance-grants/ca

13. Recommended Reading Legacy and current-use toxic contaminants in Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) from Puget Sound, Washington, USA

Abstract

Forage fish are primary prey for seabirds, fish and marine mammals. Contaminant transfer and biomagnification of the toxic compounds measured in this study likely contribute to elevated levels in Puget Sound, Washington, salmon and killer whale tissues that could be sufficiently high to elicit adverse effects and hamper population recovery efforts. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorinated pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkylphenols, and chlorinated paraffins were detected in all Pacific sand lance tissue samples generally below available health effect levels. Residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon tissue concentrations near a former creosote site suggest ongoing contaminant exposure. Biomagnification calculations suggest that concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in some forage fish could result in predator tissue concentrations exceeding effect levels. The emerging contaminants alkylphenols and chlorinated paraffins are first reported here in Puget Sound forage fish, and their frequent detection, high production volumes and endocrine-disrupting properties highlight the need for further study.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X20304057?via%3Dihub

14. Recommended Reading- Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of microplastics in marine organisms: A review and meta-analysis of current data

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) contamination has been well documented across a range of habitats and for a large number of organisms in the marine environment. Consequently, bioaccumulation, and in particular biomagnification of MPs and associated chemical additives, are often inferred to occur in marine food webs. Presented here are the results of a systematic literature review to examine whether current, published findings support the premise that MPs and associated chemical additives bioaccumulate and biomagnify across a general marine food web. First, field and laboratory-derived contamination data on marine species were standardised by sample size from a total of 116 publications. Second, following assignment of each species to one of five main trophic levels, the average uptake of MPs and of associated chemical additives was estimated across all species within each level. These uptake data within and across the five trophic levels were then critically examined for any evidence of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Findings corroborate previous studies that MP bioaccumulation occurs within each trophic level, while current evidence around bioaccumulation of associated chemical additives is much more ambiguous. In contrast, MP biomagnification across a general marine food web is not supported by current field observations, while results from the few laboratory studies supporting trophic transfer are hampered by using unrealistic exposure conditions. Further, a lack of both field and laboratory data precludes an examination of potential trophic transfer and biomagnification of chemical additives associated with MPs. Combined, these findings indicate that, although bioaccumulation of MPs occurs within trophic levels, no clear sign of MP biomagnification in situ was observed at the higher trophic levels. Recommendations for future studies to focus on investigating ingestion, retention and depuration rates for MPs and chemical additives under environmentally realistic conditions, and on examining the potential of multi-level trophic transfer for MPs and chemical additives have been made.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240792

15. Recommended Reading- Impact of co-exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and lead (Pb) on African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1922) fed contaminated copepods (Eucyclop sp.)

Abstract

The fast-growing discharge of effluents of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems raises concern in recent times. This study investigated the effects of the co-exposure between nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and lead (Pb) in a simplified freshwater food web model, including zooplankton (copepods sp.) and Clarias gariepinus on bioaccumulation and antioxidant activity. We carried out a chronic (28 days) semi-static bioassay by feeding individually fish with zooplankton exposed to TiO2 NPs (0.09 and 0.20 μM), Pb (0.01 and 0.04 μM), and their binary mixtures. The binary mixtures caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde (1.64–2.01-fold), catalase (3.18–3.89-fold), glutathione reductase (1.37–1.46-fold), and glutathione peroxidase (1.19–1.89-fold) levels. Lead accumulated in the tissues had bioaccumulation factor between 0.40 and 1.42 in binary mixture. These results indicate that chronic exposure of TiO2 NPs could influence the BAF of Pb, neurotoxicity, changes of antioxidant enzymes, and retardation of food uptake. These findings raise concerns regarding the fate of higher trophic levels in polluted freshwater ecosystems with a binary mixture of engineer nanomaterials and heavy metals.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-08234-0

16. Recommended Reading- Heart development in two populations of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) following exposure to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixture

Abstract

Historic industrial pollution of the Elizabeth River, Virginia resulted in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in sediments. Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) inhabiting the Atlantic Wood (AW) industrial site adapted to complex PAH mixture at this Superfund site. Their embryos have proved highly resistant to cardiac abnormalities indicative of PAH toxicity. In this study, embryos spawned from adults collected at AW and King’s Creek (KC), a reference site, were exposed at 24 h post fertilization (hpf) to Elizabeth River Sediment Extract (ERSE), a complex PAH mixture, in a range of concentrations (0, 5.04, 50.45, 100.90, 151.35, or 252.25 µg/L total PAHs). Embryos were processed for histology at 144 hpf to enable evaluations of hearts at tissue and cellular levels. Morphometry and severity scoring were used to evaluate the extent of alterations. Unexposed embryos were similar in both populations. ERSE exposure resulted in multiple changes to hearts of KC embryos but not AW. Alterations were particularly evident in KC embryos exposed to concentrations above 1% ERSE (50.45 µg/L), which had thinner ventricular walls and larger pericardial edema. Individuals with moderate pericardial edema maintained arrangement and proximity of heart chambers, but changes were seen in ventricular myocytes. Severe pericardial edema was prevalent in exposed KC embryos and typically resulted in tube heart formation. Ventricles of tube hearts had very thin walls composed of small, basophilic cells and lacked trabeculae. Edematous pericardial fluid contained small amounts of proteinaceous material, as did controls, and was free of cells. This fluid was primarily unstained, suggesting water influx due to increased permeability. The use of histological approaches provided more specific detail for tissue and cellular effects in hearts of embryos exposed to PAHs and enabled understanding of potential links to later life effects of early life exposure.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320314172?via%3Dihub

17. Recommended Reading- Changes of potential catches for North-East Atlantic small pelagic fisheries under climate change scenarios

Abstract

Small- and intermediate-size pelagic fisheries are highly impacted by environmental variability and climate change. Their wide geographical distribution and high mobility makes them more likely to shift their distribution under climate change. Here, we explore the potential impact of different climate change scenarios on the four main commercial pelagic species in the North-East Atlantic (NEA): Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou). We used a process-based fisheries model (SS-DBEM), where all the target species were exploited at their maximum sustainable yield (MSY), to project future potential catches under a high- and low-future-greenhouse-gas scenario (RCP 2.6 and 8.5, respectively). Two ocean biogeochemical models (GDFL and MEDUSA) were used to force the environmental conditions. Mackerel and sprat are projected to have increases in a potential catch under both scenarios. Herring and blue whiting are projected to increase under the RCP2.6, but future projections under RCP8.5 show mixed responses with decreases or no changes forecasted. Overall, the potential catch is projected to increase in the northern area of the NEA but is projected to decrease in the southern area. These projected changes are mainly driven by changes in temperature and primary production. Shifts in the distribution of pelagic resources may destabilize existing international agreements on sharing of straddling resources as exemplified by the dispute in sharing of quota for Atlantic mackerel. Novel climate-ready policy approaches considering full species distribution are needed to complement current stock-based approaches.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10113-020-01698-3

18. Recommended Reading- Snake River sockeye and Chinook salmon in a changing climate: Implications for upstream migration survival during recent extreme and future climates

Abstract

In 2015, the Pacific marine heat wave, low river flows, and record high water temperatures in the Columbia River Basin contributed to a near-complete failure of the adult migration of endangered Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka, NOAA Fisheries 2016). These extreme weather events may become the new normal due to anthropogenic climate change, with catastrophic consequences for endangered species. Existing anthropogenic pressures may amplify vulnerability to climate change, but these potential synergies have rarely been quantified. We examined factors affecting survival of endangered sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) and threatened Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) as they migrated upstream through eight dams and reservoirs to spawning areas in the Snake River Basin. Our extensive database included histories of 17,279 individual fish that migrated since 2004. A comparison between conditions in 2015 and daily temperatures and flows in a regulated basin forced by output from global climate models showed that 2015 did have many characteristics of projected future mean conditions. To evaluate potential salmon responses, we modeled migration timing and apparent survival under historical and future climate scenarios (2040s). For Chinook salmon, adult survival from the first dam encountered to spawning grounds dropped by 4-15%, depending on the climate scenario. For sockeye, survival dropped by ~80% from their already low levels. Through sensitivity analyses, we observed that the adult sockeye migration would need to shift more than 2 weeks earlier than predicted to maintain survival rates typical of those seen during 2008-2017. Overall, the greater impacts of climate change on adult sockeye compared with adult Chinook salmon reflected differences in life history and environmental sensitivities, which were compounded for sockeye by larger effect sizes from other anthropogenic factors. Compared with Chinook, sockeye was more negatively affected by a history of juvenile transportation and by similar temperatures and flows. The largest changes in temperature and flow were projected to be upstream from the hydrosystem, where direct mitigation through hydrosystem management is not an option. Unfortunately, Snake River sockeye have likely lost much of their adaptive capacity with the loss of the wild population. Further work exploring habitat restoration or additional mitigation actions is urgently needed.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

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https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238886

19. Recommended Reading- Do Two Wrongs Make a Right? Persistent Uncertainties Regarding Environmental Selenium–Mercury Interactions

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive environmental pollutant and contaminant of concern for both people and wildlife that has been a focus of environmental remediation efforts for decades. A growing body of literature has motivated calls for revising Hg consumption advisories to co-consider selenium (Se) levels in seafood and implies that remediating aquatic ecosystems with ecosystem-scale Se additions could be a robust solution to Hg contamination. Provided that elevated Se concentrations are also known toxicological threats to aquatic animals, we performed a literature search to evaluate the strength of evidence supporting three assertions underpinning the ameliorating benefits of Se: (1) dietary Se reduces MeHg toxicity in consumers; (2) environmental Se reduces Hg bioaccumulation and biomagnification in aquatic food webs; and (3) Se inhibits Hg bioavailability to, and/or methylmercury production by, microbial communities. Limited or ambiguous support for each criterion indicates that many scientific uncertainties and gaps remain regarding Se mediation of Hg behavior and toxicity in abiotic and biotic compartments. Significantly more information is needed to provide a strong scientific basis for modifying current fish consumption advisories on the basis of Se:Hg ratios or for applying Se amendments to remediate Hg-contaminated ecosystems.

For the full article, please hit the read more button below.

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https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.0c01894

20. Recommended Reading- Chronic depression-like phenotype in male offspring mice following perinatal exposure to naturally contaminated eels with a mixture of organic and inorganic pollutants

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated that maternal exposure to high, intermediate, or lowly contaminated European eels with a mixture of chemicals, during pregnancy and lactation, resulted in adult despair-like behavior, selectively in male offspring mice. Here, we investigate if depression-like behavior in offspring males was transient or permanent by monitoring immobility behavior, a measure of behavioral despair, at three distinct stages of life, including young adult (post-natal day (PND) 55), mature adult (PND 200) and middle (PNDs 335–336) age, in the forced swimming (FST) and the tail suspension (TST) tests. Oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were evaluated in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum of middle-aged animals. Findings showed a significant enhancement of immobility behavior in the TST performed at young adult age (all p < 0.05) in the FST carried out at mature adult age (all p < 0.001) and in both behavioral tests realized at middle age (all p < 0.05, except one p = 0.06) in mice perinatally exposed to eels compared with non-exposed controls. Antioxidant-related enzyme activities, including SOD and CAT, were only elevated in the hippocampus of middle-aged males perinatally exposed to the two more polluted eels (all p < 0.05). Further, lipid peroxidation, assessed by MDA levels, was not found to be differentially regulated in the selected areas of middle-aged brains of exposed mice (all p > 0.05). Collectively, this suggested limited oxidative metabolism disturbances in middle-aged brains exposed to eels. In summary, our results highlighted that offspring males perinatally exposed to naturally contaminated reared and river eels with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals displayed chronic depression-like phenotype. As extrapolation of data to humans should be done with precaution, retrospective and prospective epidemiological studies are needed to clarify this potential relationship, stressed in our animal model, between maternal polluted fish consumption and chronically low mood in offspring.

READ MORE:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11356-020-08799-w

21. Conference Opportunity- 11th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference- April6-9, 2021

The biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference is jointly sponsored by the Delta Stewardship Council (Council) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a forum for presenting scientific analyses and results relevant to management of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The goal of the conference is to provide new information and syntheses to the broad community of scientists, engineers, resource managers, and stakeholders working on Bay-Delta issues.

The conference program will feature a range of topics relevant to the Bay-Delta science, management and decision-making community. This year’s conference theme is “Building Resilience through Diversity in Science.” Registration is required to attend.

Conference Participation
Abstract Submission Due Date:
All abstracts for oral sessions (special and general) and posters (including clusters) were due January 5, 2021 by 8:59 PM through the abstract submission portal. For instructions and details, please review the call for abstracts.

Art
As in previous years, the Bay-Delta Science Conference will feature artwork. Artists of all forms and media, including but not limited to painting, photography, sculpture, digital, music, and performance are encouraged to submit proposals. The conference planning committee is particularly interested in featuring original works created through collaborations between artists and scientists. Please view the call for art proposals for submission instructions. The deadline to submit an art proposal has passed.

The Brown-Nichols Science Award
The Brown-Nichols Science Award was established in 2008 in honor of the significant contributions of Dr. Randall Brown and Dr. Frederic Nichols. Each made substantive contributions to science through research, by facilitating good science by others, and by communicating science to managers and policy makers in the San Francisco Estuary and watershed. Together, they laid the foundations for the first Bay-Delta Science Conference.

The award is given to recognize the contributions of a scientist for significant research and active involvement in facilitating the use of science to manage the San Francisco Estuary and watershed. Recent awardees include:

Dr. Ted Sommer from the California Department of Water Resources (2018),
Dr. Jeffrey Mount from the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center (2016), and
Dr. Anke Mueller-Solger from the Interagency Ecological Program (2014).
The next award recipient will be announced at the 2021 Bay-Delta Science Conference. The due date for nominations for the Brown Nichols Science Award was January 15, 2021. View the nomination instructions.

Social Science Network Kickoff
Don’t miss this networking event to launch a Bay-Delta social science community of practice on day two of the Conference, April 7, from 3:30 - 5:30 PM. This event will serve as a convening point and virtual networking opportunity for social science scholars and practitioners working across the Bay-Delta to come together, provide input, and discuss the development of a social science community, including the community’s goals, governance structure, and activities. For access to this event, please register to attend the Conference.

Questions?
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For more info or to register for the conference, please hit the read more button below.

READ MORE:
https://deltacouncil.ca.gov/delta-science-program/11th-biennial-bay-delta-science-conference

22. Summit Opportunity- California Beaver Summit- April 7 and 9 2021

About The California Beaver Summit

Climate change is making our state hotter, drier, and harder for people and wildlife. Find out how beaver can help.

Beaver has shaped the landscapes of California for over 5 million years. Their dams have slowed runoff and created wetlands of carbon enriched meadows. They charged aquifers, maintained stable temperatures, and cooled stream flows in California’s dry summers. Countless species and entire ecosystems have adapted to these beaver-maintained hydrologies and geomorphologies.

Today, across the US, Canada, and Europe, people have begun to better realize the value these rodents provide. The golden state has been slow to understand this lesson. The California Beaver Summit is an important step towards changing that.

During two half-day sessions on two days in April, we explore the many benefits that beavers offer to our drying state. The first session on April 7th will present an overview of beaver essentials. The discussion will clarify the history of beavers in the state, their ecological contribution as a keystone species, their function in aquatic restoration and conservation, and finally, how to successfully manage common conflicts beavers cause.

The second session on April 9th takes a closer look closer at how biologists, watershed stewards, and land managers utilize advances in beaver science and management for restoration. It addresses where they are being employed for fire resilience, conservation of endangered species, and cleaner water. California-specific management and policy challenges will be highlighted along with directions for future improvements. Because we are behind other beaver-progressive western states like Washington and Utah, California is in a unique position to avoid their mistakes and learn from their successes.

Fires in close succession and habitat destruction, in general, are significantly altering our rich biodiversity. Drought is a persistent concern. Understanding beaver management can transform this animal from an uninvited guest to an untapped resource. Their stewardship of streams can make our state more beautiful, more robust to climate change, and ultimately help keep California’s promise to future generations for years to come.

To register or learn more, hit the read more button below.