Abstract
Great Salt Lake is a unique terminal lake located adjacent to Salt Lake City, Utah. Beneficial uses of Great Salt Lake are protected through application of a narrative clause in the state water quality standards. The Utah Division of Water Quality initiated a process in 2004 to develop a site-specific water quality standard for selenium for open waters of Great Salt Lake in response to specific concerns expressed by the public. The process the Division of Water Quality initiated included formation of a stakeholders' Steering Committee and a Science Panel to identify the required studies, manage those studies, and recommend a site specific standard. Studies were recently completed to assess concentrations and effects of selenium in five species of birds; measure selenium concentrations of water, seston, brine shrimp (Artemia sp.), and brine flies (Ephydra sp.); measure selenium loads entering Great Salt Lake; and measure flux of selenium from water to sediment, atmosphere and the food web. Information from these studies was used to "populate" the elements of a comprehensive conceptual model for Great Salt Lake that is being used to establish the site-specific standard for selenium.
Recommended Citation
Ohlendorf, Harry M.; DenBleyker, Jeff; Moellmer, William O.; and Miller, Theron
(2009)
"Development of a site-specific standard for selenium in open waters of Great Salt Lake, Utah,"
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues: Vol. 15, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/nrei/vol15/iss1/4
