Toxic mercury makes the wipers in Newcastle Reservoir too dangerous to eat.
And, while scientists might not know why the popular fishing spot is so polluted, they think they might have a means of dramatically reducing the danger levels. The possible solution: churning the water so less toxic methylmercury works into the food chain.
"This is the first glimmer of hope we've seen," said Walt Donaldson of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
The idea has been circulating for a few months. Last week, it got an important boost, with a tentative endorsement from the Utah Department of Natural Resources' Habitat Conservation Board.
The board is doling out around $2.3 million this year on more than 60 projects to improve streams, range and other wildlife habitat. While its funding for next year is uncertain, the advisory panel gave its preliminary support for putting $74,100 toward the $247,000 needed in the first year.
David L. Naftz of the U.S. Geological Survey explained the idea has been tried successfully in Finland. If the funding comes through, the three-year project would involve installing a pump on a platform in Newcastle or one of the other three lakes in southwestern Utah that contains fish shown to have high levels of mercury.
With southern Utah's sunny skies, the pumps could be operated with solar panels, Naftz suggested. But first, some computer modeling, then testing is needed to show the best place to put a pump.
Once in place, the pump would circulate oxygen and heat into lower layers of the lake water. And warmer water with more oxygen in it limits the biochemical transformation of elemental mercury into its poisonous form, methylmercury.
Methylmercury is the stuff that builds up in the food chain and accumulates in the flesh of some of Utah's most popular sports fish, including largemouth bass, rainbow trout and shiners, from some of Utah's most popular fishing spots, including Newcastle, Upper Enterprise, Sand Hollow and Gunlock. The wipers -- a white bass-striped bass hybrid -- had extremely high levels of methylmercury and should not be eaten, according to the latest advisory.
People who eat the contaminated fish are themselves at risk. Too much mercury can cause hair loss, heart problems and neurological problems in adults. Pregnant woman, their unborn children and youngsters are at greater risk and methylmercury in the young can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
In Finland, Naftz said, the pump helped lower methylmercury levels significantly in both the water column and the fish.
"This hasn't been done anywhere else in the United States," Naftz said, "so we would definitely be at the forefront."
John Whitehead of the Utah Division of Water Quality noted that it could be the best opportunity the state has to address mercury pollution as it continues to search for the reasons why contamination is so bad in some places.
"We believe this has a statewide application if it works out," he said.
The three-year pilot project would cost nearly $600,000, with the wildlife division, the water-quality division and USGS all pitching in. While Habitat Council members generally supported what they agreed was an unusual project for their funds, they also wondered if research is covered under the council's mandate from lawmakers. A final vote on spending is expected in April.
» Officials have issued 16 fish consumption advisories statewide, seven at river locations and nine at lakes and reservoirs.
» About 1,921 fish have been tested for mercury from 195 river sites and 90 lake locations.
» Exactly how mercury is winding up in Utah waters is not clear, but at least some of the problem is out of the state's control because Asia accounts for about 53 percent of mercury pollution worldwide.
» Utah is the only state with consumption advisories for waterfowl.
