Impacts of Gold Mining and Land Use Alterations on the Water Quality of Central Mongolian Rivers

Stubblefield, A. P.; Chandra, Sudeep; Eagan, Sean; Tuvshinjargal, Dampil; Davaadorzh, Gantimur; Gilroy, David; Sampson, Jennifer; Thorne, J. R.; Allen, Brant C.; Hogan, Zeb

doi:10.1897/1551-3793(2005)1[365:iogmal]2.0.co;2

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The situation may provide a unique fisheries conservation opportunity: protecting taimen populations while allowing catch‐and‐release fly fishing may serve as a vehicle for the conservation of Mongolia's rivers. The urgency of such efforts is increasing: untapped mineral deposits combined with lack of environmental protections has made Mongolia an attractive location for mining development, and foreign investment in large‐scale mining (using environmentally devastating placer mining techniques) has already impacted some of Mongolia's rivers, and threatens to impact many more (Stubblefield et al 2005). By “valuating” a previously unvalued resource, a non‐extractive taimen fishery can create incentives for protection of taimen and their habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MODELING SPAWNING DATES OFHUCHO TAIMENIN MONGOLIA TO ESTABLISH FISHERY MANAGEMENT ZONES

Zanden

Joppa

Allen

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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The ecological impacts of recreational fisheries are of growing concern and pose a number of unique management challenges. Here we report on our efforts to provide guidance for managing a recreational fishery for taimen, the giant Eurasian trout (Hucho taimen) in Mongolia. This species has declined dramatically across its range of Siberia and Central Asia, and is currently listed as endangered in Mongolia. Strong populations persist in remote regions of Mongolia because of limited anthropogenic impacts and harvest, though interest in the fishery is expanding rapidly. Current fishing regulations list the spring "opening date" for taimen fishing as 15 June, although regulations have not been consistently enforced, partially because taimen spawn much earlier than 15 June in much of the country. Through a combination of statistical models, climate data, knowledge of taimen biology, and geographic information systems (GIS), we model taimen spawning dates for potential habitat in Mongolia. A parametric bootstrap procedure was used to simulate variability in spawning date derived from inter-annual climate variability and model error, from which we estimated the date in which taimen spawning is predicted to occur with 90% confidence. We recommend the designation of three fisheries management zones, with corresponding opening dates of 20 May, 1 June, and 15 June. Our fishery opening date recommendations are less restrictive than existing regulations. Provided there is little or no catch-and-release fishing mortality, this approach serves both environmental and human needs by protecting taimen during the reproductive period, while still allowing a post-spawning catch-and-release fishery that benefits local economies and generates revenue (through fishing concession fees) for local conservation efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MODELING SPAWNING DATES OFHUCHO TAIMENIN MONGOLIA TO ESTABLISH FISHERY MANAGEMENT ZONES

Zanden

Joppa

Allen

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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“…In addition to the "hot spots" of contaminants already identified in the Kharaa river basin HOFMANN and SCHARAW, 2009;HOFMANN and BEHRENDT, 2008) and for adjacent mining areas in general (STUBBLEFIELD et al, 2005), the following topics and countermeasures for reducing diffuse nutrient emissions are discussed: -The infiltration of untreated waste water from urban households (especially informal ger settlements) via soil passage to the groundwater represented a considerable proportion of the total emissions. The installation of septic tanks, decentralized small treatment plants (DCTP) adapted to the local conditions and re-use of treated waste water becomes an important measure.…”

Section: Identified Problems and Possible Countermeasuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Recent Nutrient Emission Pathways, Resulting Surface Water Quality and Ecological Impacts under Extreme Continental Climate: The Kharaa River Basin (Mongolia)

Hofmann

Hürdler

Ibisch

et al. 2011

International Review of Hydrobiology

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This paper presents primary research results on nutrient emissions, resulting water quality and ecological impacts of the Kharaa river basin (Mongolia) during a three-year water resource management study. Based on surveillance data from Mongolian environmental authorities and a complementary own monitoring scheme we calculated nutrient emissions on a sub-basin scale. Additionally, the ecological situation of fish fauna, macroinvertebrates and their habitats were investigated on selected river sections in order to link anthropogenic pressures, nutrient status and ecological impact. was estimated. Main contributors are urban settlements with a high proportion of households without connection to wastewater treatment plants and, to a lesser extent, agricultural land-use. These nutrient levels have a significant eutrophication potential in the Kharaa River and we observed functional shifts of the macroinvertebrates and fish fauna, while the drinking water abstraction through bank filtration showed no significant alteration of raw water quality. DedicationHORST BEHRENDT developed the conceptual nutrient emission model MONERIS, which was designed for the river systems in Central Europe (see VENOHR et al. 2011 With the publication of this study we present the results of his modelling approach and the implications for an innovative water quality assessment in data-scarce regions.

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“…Along with habitat loss (Hartwig and Borchardt, 2014;Hartwig et al, 2016), water pollution (Stubblefield et al, 2005;Hofmann et al, 2010Hofmann et al, , 2011Thorslund et al, 2012;Pfeiffer et al, 2014;Nadmitov et al, 2015;Kaus et al, 2016), water abstraction (Karthe et al, 2015a) and climate change (Menzel et al, 2011;Karthe et al, 2013;Malsy et al, 2016), the primary threat facing many resident fish populations is their intentional mortality resulting from rapidly growing recreational fishing activities by both local and foreign fishers Ocock et al, 2006;Vander Zanden et al, 2007). Along with habitat loss (Hartwig and Borchardt, 2014;Hartwig et al, 2016), water pollution (Stubblefield et al, 2005;Hofmann et al, 2010Hofmann et al, , 2011Thorslund et al, 2012;Pfeiffer et al, 2014;Nadmitov et al, 2015;Kaus et al, 2016), water abstraction (Karthe et al, 2015a) and climate change (Menzel et al, 2011;Karthe et al, 2013;Malsy et al, 2016), the primary threat facing many resident fish populations is their intentional mortality resulting from rapidly growing recreational fishing activities by both local and foreign fishers Ocock et al, 2006;Vander Zanden et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal home range shifts of the Siberian taimen (Hucho taimenPallas 1773): Evidence from passive acoustic telemetry in the Onon River and Balj tributary (Amur River basin, Mongolia)

Kaus

Büttner

Schäffer

et al. 2016

Internat. Rev. Hydrobiol.

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Hucho taimen, the world's largest salmonid, is a potadromous species that is listed as endangered in Mongolia. While mature individuals are known to have extended longitudinal movements of over 90 km along main river channels, details of the seasonal movements and residency of individuals within and between tributary habitats have been largely undocumented. Therefore, the current research aimed to detect and quantify the seasonal distances moved by adult taimen (65–96 cm; n = 10) within and between the Onon River (Amur River basin) and a major tributary (Balj) over 12 months using passive acoustic telemetry. The median distance moved by taimen in spring was 17.4 km (n = 6), in summer 9.1 km (n = 4), autumn 4.7 km (n = 9) and winter 0.4 km (n = 8). However, there were no statically significant differences amongst these median seasonal home range sizes. Two taimen traversed between the Onon River and the Balj tributary during the study period, recording overall home ranges of 44.5 km and 126.1 km. One of these individuals moved twice, exiting the tributary in autumn and returning again in spring where it remained for 36 days, while the second taimen moved only once into the tributary in spring and re‐entered the main channel in late summer after 85 days. Another two taimen entered surrounding smaller tributaries and recorded home ranges of 26.1 km and 29.2 km, while all remaining individuals were detected moving only within the waterway where they were originally captured and released (0.8–20.1 km). Taimen movements within tributaries such as the Balj can be extensive (<60 km), as they provide access to important spawning, feeding and overwintering habitats as well as refuge from adverse thermal and hydrological conditions. Thus to enhance population recovery, it is essential that current and future management and conservation efforts include preserving or restoring the ecological integrity and hydrological connectivity of these critical tributaries and the main river channel throughout the Onon and Amur River basins and across the remaining distribution of this endangered species.

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Impacts of Gold Mining and Land Use Alterations on the Water Quality of Central Mongolian Rivers

Cited by 12 publications

References 7 publications

MODELING SPAWNING DATES OFHUCHO TAIMENIN MONGOLIA TO ESTABLISH FISHERY MANAGEMENT ZONES

MODELING SPAWNING DATES OFHUCHO TAIMENIN MONGOLIA TO ESTABLISH FISHERY MANAGEMENT ZONES

Analysis of Recent Nutrient Emission Pathways, Resulting Surface Water Quality and Ecological Impacts under Extreme Continental Climate: The Kharaa River Basin (Mongolia)

Seasonal home range shifts of the Siberian taimen (Hucho taimenPallas 1773): Evidence from passive acoustic telemetry in the Onon River and Balj tributary (Amur River basin, Mongolia)

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