Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is located on the southernmost tip of the Delmarva
Peninsula in Northampton County, Virginia. It consists of a variety of habitats including maritime forest, grasslands, fresh
and brackish ponds, tidal salt marsh, and beach. The Refuge is considered one of the most important avian funnels along the
east coast (Bright and Sagan, 1987); it provides outstanding foraging and sheltering habitat for migrating avian species and
productive nursery grounds for fish. In 2001, the Refuge purchased 375 acres of salt marsh down range of the Northampton County
small firearms range. The firing range, a two acre in-holding within the Refuge, was formerly owned by the Department of Defense
and is presumed to have been active since the 1930s. In this study, we investigated contaminant levels in soils and sediments
in the marsh down range of the firing range and along the Virginia Inside Passage to assess whether contaminants are present
at levels that would pose an ecological threat. Samples were also collected from the marsh for lead shot or bullet density
determination to assess whether lead ingestion would pose a threat to birds or other biota. Lead shot or bullets were not
found in any sediment samples. Only one sample, from the marsh, exceeded the lead Effects Range Low (ERL) level, but it was
below the Effects Range Median (ERM) and Probable Effect Levels (PEL). Arsenic was above the ERL level in seven of the eight
marsh samples but did not approach either ERM or PEL levels. Nickel was above the ERL level in two of the eight marsh samples,
but was below the ERM and PEL values. Five organic compounds - acenaphthene, anthracene, dieldrin, DDE, and total PCBs - were
detected above their ERL levels. Only two of those analytes, dieldrin and DDE, were above their ERM levels. Of the two samples
in which dieldrin was above the ERL, only one was above the PEL. The DDE level was above the ERM level in one marsh sample.
This study indicates the soil and sediment pose no threat to wildlife from lead or other contaminants levels and there is
no risk of lead poisoning to wildlife via ingestion. The few cases in which contaminant levels were elevated are localized
and do not pose a widespread threat to biota. The ERL is a conservative level and although some levels were higher than the
ERL, the risk those levels pose to wildlife is negligible.; abstract: The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge) is located on the southernmost tip of the Delmarva Peninsula in Northampton County, Virginia. It consists of a variety
of habitats including maritime forest, grasslands, fresh and brackish ponds, tidal salt marsh, and beach. The Refuge is considered
one of the most important avian funnels along the east coast (Bright and Sagan, 1987); it provides outstanding foraging and
sheltering habitat for migrating avian species and productive nursery grounds for fish. In 2001, the Refuge purchased 375
acres of salt marsh down range of the Northampton County small firearms range. The firing range, a two acre in-holding within
the Refuge, was formerly owned by the Department of Defense and is presumed to have been active since the 1930s. In this study,
we investigated contaminant levels in soils and sediments in the marsh down range of the firing range and along the Virginia
Inside Passage to assess whether contaminants are present at levels that would pose an ecological threat. Samples were also
collected from the marsh for lead shot or bullet density determination to assess whether lead ingestion would pose a threat
to birds or other biota. Lead shot or bullets were not found in any sediment samples. Only one sample, from the marsh, exceeded
the lead Effects Range Low (ERL) level, but it was below the Effects Range Median (ERM) and Probable Effect Levels (PEL).
Arsenic was above the ERL level in seven of the eight marsh samples but did not approach either ERM or PEL levels. Nickel
was above the ERL level in two of the eight marsh samples, but was below the ERM and PEL values. Five organic compounds -
acenaphthene, anthracene, dieldrin, DDE, and total PCBs - were detected above their ERL levels. Only two of those analytes,
dieldrin and DDE, were above their ERM levels. Of the two samples in which dieldrin was above the ERL, only one was above
the PEL. The DDE level was above the ERM level in one marsh sample. This study indicates the soil and sediment pose no threat
to wildlife from lead or other contaminants levels and there is no risk of lead poisoning to wildlife via ingestion. The few
cases in which contaminant levels were elevated are localized and do not pose a widespread threat to biota. The ERL is a conservative
level and although some levels were higher than the ERL, the risk those levels pose to wildlife is negligible.
Citation
- Title Eastern shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge small firearms range assessment.
-
- creation Date
2018-05-19T15:56:32.893199
Resource language:
Processing environment:
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Metadata data stamp:
2018-08-07T01:20:33Z
Resource Maintenance Information
- maintenance or update frequency:
- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-07T01:20:33Z
Metadata contact
-
pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
-
- Contact information
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-
- Address
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- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
Metadata character set encoding:
utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:90ee1f70-d3dc-4207-8015-620fa3be702e
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)