Grantee Research Project Results
2011 Progress Report: Understanding the Cumulative Affects of Environmental and Psycho-Social Stressors that Threaten the Pohlik-lah and Ner-er-ner Lifeway: The Yurok Tribe’s Approach
EPA Grant Number: R833708Title: Understanding the Cumulative Affects of Environmental and Psycho-Social Stressors that Threaten the Pohlik-lah and Ner-er-ner Lifeway: The Yurok Tribe’s Approach
Investigators: Sloan, Kathleen , Steinberg, Steven J , Steinberg, Sheila , Fluharty, Suzanne
Institution: Yurok Tribe Environmental Program , Humboldt State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012 (Extended to December 31, 2013)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2010 through September 30,2011
Project Amount: $974,389
RFA: Issues in Tribal Environmental Research and Health Promotion: Novel Approaches for Assessing and Managing Cumulative Risks and Impacts of Global Climate Change (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Climate Change , Tribal Environmental Health Research , Human Health
Objective:
Progress Summary:
Year 3 of the project focused on completing the primary data collection components: Field Sampling, Lab Analysis and PPGIS.
- Field Sampling
Tier One sampling began May 5, 2010 and continued through April 2011. A total of 293 individuals from 9 species along with composites of 2 seaweed species and water from both Spring and Fall flows of the Klamath River were analyzed. Table One lists both the planned targeted species as reported in the grant QAAP and the final species that were sampled, as well as their trophic level representation in their environment.
Substitutions of some species deviated from the QAPP and were required due to yearly fluctuations in the timing and reduced numbers of local runs of the planned targeted species. Spring 2011 had very few surf fish returning to their traditional sites making them unavailable for collection as samples. Additionally, multiple attempts were made to locate Washington clams with only 4 individuals harvested over three field trips. With their local diminished numbers they were withdrawn from the sampling schema. The locally utilized seaweeds were also diminished to non-existent in Spring/Summer of 2010 so species substitutions were made and Palmaria sp. was sent for analysis. However, in Spring 2011 robust populations covering many rocks and multiple locations made harvesting possible and the decision was made to supplement the species analyzed in 2010 with the Yurok favored, Porphora sp.
Classification | Targeted Species | Sampled Species |
Predator | *Surf fish (Hypomesus pretiosus) Fall Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Winter Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) | **Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Fall Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Winter Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) |
Bottom-feeder, Predator | Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) | Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) |
Filter feeder, Parasite, Predator | Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) | Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) |
Filter feeder | California mussel (Mytilus californianus) Razor Clams (Siliqua patula) *Washington Clams (Saxidomus giganteus) Fresh Water Mussels (Gonidea spp.) | California mussel (Mytilus californianus) Razor Clams (Siliqua patula) Fresh Water Mussels (Margaritifera falcate) |
Marine Producer | *Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) | **Sea weeds (Porphora sp. & Palmaria sp.) |
*Deviation from QAAP research plan due to unavailability; not sampled
**Replacement species
- Lab Analysis and Initial Results
The primary goal for conducting tissue sampling and analysis is to produce information about the physical health of aquatic species relied upon by Yurok People for their subsistence, cultural, and economic lifeways. This is being accomplished through broad spectrum laboratory analysis as reported above and the initial results increase our general knowledge of the levels of toxic contaminants in aquatic subsistence resources and Klamath River water. Tier One detections in general were low. Only select trace metals and PAHs exceeded current public health or water quality criteria limits. The only exception to this was the fresh water mussel concentrations of microcystins that appear relatively high but have no established reference tolerances.
As stated in both the Project Proposal and the Project QAPP, Tier One screening was to inform a more intensified Tier Two sampling and analysis and should be limited to those toxins identified in Tier One and correlated to the specific species that confirmed the toxin presence. Additionally, Tier One analysis was conducted on composite samples and does not report on the range nor any variations in the levels of detectable toxins in resources at specific local harvesting areas. Tier Two sampling will quantify the range of contaminants within the species’ populations that had exceedances and will discriminate any variations in levels of contamination at different subsistence harvesting sites.
By considering both constraints to budgets and the limited number of toxic exceedances, it was decided to include both trace metals and PAHs as target analytes for Tier Two testing. For the mobile species sampled as composites, discrete individuals will be re-analyzed to establish the variability of toxins within their sampled populations. This intensified analysis will return additional data for six individuals each of Winter Steelhead, sturgeon, Coho, and both Spring and Fall Chinook salmon runs. The lamprey will have nine total discretes. During field sampling, there were three lamprey that were taken that were not within 25 % of each other and therefore not of comparable size for composite analysis. These three were held frozen and sent to the lab for the additional Tier Two sampling. In total 39 individuals will be analyzed.
For the non-mobile species, the seaweeds, freshwater, and marine mussels, site specific composites will be re-analyzed from each of the their respective sites to give data on the variability of toxins detected at different locations. However, marine mussels are popular with Yurok Tribal members and are harvested throughout their Ancestral Territory where access is possible, therefore field sampling was intensified and four additional sites were added for Tier Two analysis. In total, data from mussels from these seven sites along with seaweed from four sites will reveal the range of contaminants along the north/south length of coast from Wilson Beach to Little River. In addition to the metals and PAH analysis, the freshwater mussels will have microcystin analysis on the site specific composites. The sampling sites for the freshwater mussels roughly correspond to the three sites of water sampling and it is expected that results for this species will not only quantify toxin levels in the subsistence species but may help characterize the river environment. Neither additional sampling nor analysis will be performed on the crabs or clams as these are only harvested from a single location.
Tier 2 analysis is ongoing and has been determined based upon the Tier 1 results for targeted contaminants. Results for Tier Two analysis are expected by March 2012.
- PPGIS Sessions
A PPGIS session was conducted in December, 2010. The results of this activity were a series of 4 maps, each containing 10 color-coded categories of responses from participants. Each map was digitized using a large scale scanner at HSU’s Institute for Spatial Analysis Lab. The digitized files were then georeferenced using reference markers integrated into the map design. The color-coded responses were then isolated from the remaining map elements. The result of this process was the creation of a series of approximately 40 intermediate raster files, which were then georeferenced. These intermediate files with isolated responses were overlaid with the original georeferenced scans and used to generate polygons based on the PPGIS responses. The final result was a series of 10 shapefiles based on the responses from the PPGIS session.
In August 2011, a second PPGIS session was conducted at the 2011 Annual Salmon Festival. The results of this activity were a series of 8 maps, each containing 10 color-coded categories of responses from participants. These 8 maps were scanned and are currently undergoing the same process of digitization, color isolation, and georeferencing. Upon completion of digital data preparation, the PPGIS data will be analyzed for spatial patterns and change.
All hard copy maps used for PPGIS data collection and coding were maintained in a secure, locked facility through the scanning and data conversion process. Once digitization was completed, original hard-copy maps were delivered to the Yurok Tribe. All digital data is stored on secure servers at Humboldt State University's Institute for Spatial Analysis. The data is accessible only to project staff via individual passwords. Archival copies of all digital data are delivered to the Yurok Tribe upon completion for their internal use and archiving. Intermediate data are removed from the University servers as soon as relevant data processing steps are completed. Final data sets have been maintained by the Institute for Spatial Analysis for purposes of the forthcoming data analysis described above.
- Eco-Toxicological Tool
Research into the development of GIS toolsets as they apply to the principals of ecotoxicology was conducted during this year of the project. Ecotoxicology is the study of toxic chemicals, natural or synthetic, on populations and communities. Despite numerous texts and journal articles which discuss ecotoxicological principles and methods, there are relatively few studies conducted on the use of GIS technology as it applies to spatially modeling ecotoxicological systems. Modeling ecotoxicological systems using GIS allows us to account for simultaneous processes of distribution and transformation. In order to be useful for a large number of end users, a GIS tool set should be generalized, allowing users to adjust specific parameters based on the specific scenario. The objective of this research was to explore the use of GIS for ecotoxicological applications through the development of new analytical tools for future studies in ecotoxicology and environmental management and planning. The result was the CALCULATE EXPONENTIAL DECAY script tool developed using the PYTHON programming language for use in ESRI ArcMap software environment.
Future Activities:
Year 4 Activities will include:
Completion of Phase 2: Primary Data Collection
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Field sampling
- Complete Tier 2
- Analysis of laboratory results (Tissue and Water samples)
- Complete PPGIS analysis
- Testing and refinement of Eco-Toxicological Assessment Tool
- Complete Community Health Profile (California Rural Indian Health Board, Tribal Epidemiology Center) with United Indian Health Service.
- Conduct project analysis of all data and results
- Prepare educational and outreach materials
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 17 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Microcystis, microcystin, contaminants, pesticides, diabetes, cancer, endocrine disruptors, flame retardants, PBDEs, PCBs, DDT, dioxins and furans, PAHs, organophosphates, mercury, methyl mercury, metals, salmon, surf fish, Pacific lamprey, freshwater mussels, coastal mussels, clams, seaweed green sturgeon, steelhead, Yurok Tribe, Pohlik-lah and Ner-er-ner, community-based participatory research, subsistence resources, Klamath River, Pacific Coast, bioaccumulation, California Rural Indian Health Board, Tribal Epidemiology Center, Community Health Profile, United Indian Health Service, GIS, Risk Assessment.Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- Final Report
- 2013 Progress Report
- 2012 Progress Report
- 2010 Progress Report
- 2009 Progress Report
- 2008 Progress Report
- Original Abstract