NMHU Arsenic in Macrophytes Jemez Mountains, June 2011

In recent years climate change has had a major effect on snowpack and fresh
water runoff in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP), located in North
Central New Mexico. This change in runoff has the potential to negatively impact
aquatic ecosystems in this region. One concern is the increased contribution of
heavy metals from geothermal springs into the rivers and streams. The purpose
of this study is to utilize aquatic plants to determine heavy metal distribution and
potential ecosystem impact. To complete this task, aquatic plants were collected
from eleven sites exposed to heavy metal contributions by geothermal springs (only
data from 2 sites will be investigated at this time). Heavy metal analysis for
arsenic was completed and findings show that arsenic contamination is occurring;
however ecosystem impact has not yet been determined. Future work will provide more
information on the possible impacts of the aquatic ecosystems in the Jemez Mountain
streams.