Peplow, Dan. 1999. Chemical and biological indicators of mine effluent impacts on Alder Creek, north Cascade Mountains, Washington. M.S.
The Alder Mine, an abandoned gold, silver, copper, and zinc mine in Okanogan County, produces heavy metal-laden effluent that affects the quality of water in a tributary of the Methow River. This stream provides habitat for brook trout and juvenile salmonids, including steelhead and chinook salmon. In this study, chemical and biological assessment methods were combined using the principles of epidemiology to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the effluent from Alder Mine and the biological condition of Alder Creek.
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