Washington State Department of Ecology

Publication Summary

Title

Lake Chelan DDT and PCBs in Fish Total Maximum Daily Load Study

Month-Year Published

June 2005

Online Availability

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Short Description

A TMDL study of Lake Chelan and Roses Lake fish was conducted to address section 303(d) listings for 4,4′-DDE, PCB-1254, and PCB-1260 in edible fish tissue. Resident fish, surface water, and sediments were analyzed for DDT and its metabolites as well as for PCBs.

Total DDT in tissue ranged from 6 - 2,400 ug/Kg, with the highest concentrations found in mackinaw (lake trout). PCBs were generally low in all matrices. To meet water quality targets for total DDT, Wapato basin mackinaw need a 97% reduction and Roses Lake rainbow trout a 67% reduction in total DDT concentrations. Tributaries and drains discharging to the Wapato basin will need total DDT reductions up to 97%.

Errata: On December 29, 2006, corrections to this report were made, which lowered the estimated water column concentrations of DDT and PCBs for the lake. The USGS spreadsheet calculator used to estimate water concentrations from SPMD results was found to have an error. This resulted in overestimating water column concentrations by a factor of 5.

(Also see abstract below)

Publication Number

05-03-014

Author(s)

Coots, R. and B. Era-Miller

Print Availability

Request from the program.

Number of pages

66 + app (141 total)

Keywords

basin, DDT, fish, lake, PCBs, sampling, Total Maximum Daily Load, toxic, water

Subject Waterbodies

Chelan Lake,
Roses Lake

map of Washington state showing locations of subject waterbodies

Related Publications

Title

Relationship

Quality Assurance Project Plan: Total Maximum Daily Load Study for DDT and PCBs in Lake Chelan

similar topic

Abstract

Long Description

Lake Chelan is included on Washington State′s 1998 303(d) list as being water-quality-limited for 4,4′-DDE, PCB-1254, and PCB-1260 in edible fish tissue. Roses Lake is listed for 4,4′-DDE. In response, the Department of Ecology developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study for DDT and PCBs in Lake Chelan and Roses Lake fish tissue.

Sampling was conducted from May through November 2003. Fish tissue, water, and sediment were analyzed for DDT and its metabolites DDE and DDD, as well as for PCBs. Limited analysis also was conducted for dioxin in fish tissue.

Total DDT in fish tissue was high, ranging from 6 - 2,400 ug/Kg. The highest concentrations were reported in mackinaw. Total DDT concentrations in burbot from the Wapato basin of Lake Chelan were more than an order of magnitude higher than in burbot from the Lucerne basin of the lake.

Semipermeable membrane device results showed total DDT concentrations in the Wapato basin were approximately six times higher in May and June, averaging 5.2 ng/L, than in October and November, averaging 0.94 ng/L. Total DDT measured in water from tributaries and agricultural drains to Lake Chelan routinely exceeded aquatic life criteria.

Total DDT concentrations in surface sediments from Wapato and Lucerne basins averaged 560 and 120 ug/Kg, respectively.

PCBs were generally low in fish tissue, water, and sediment.

Based on study results, load allocations were developed to meet water quality standards for fish tissue and water discharging to the lakes.

Mackinaw from the Wapato basin require a 97% reduction in total DDT, a 63% reduction in total PCBs, and a 90% reduction in dioxin toxic equivalent quotients.

Rainbow trout from Roses Lake require a 67% reduction in total DDT.

Tributaries and drains to the lakes require reductions in total DDT loads from up to 97% for Lake Chelan and 95% for the orchard drain to Roses Lake.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID RCOO0004

This page last updated October 8, 2008

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