Two different soil sampling techniques for assessing soil lead concentrations at the Overton Wildlife Management Area, Nevada

Author

Kristen E. Falc, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Award Date

Spring 2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environmental Science

Advisor 1

Dr. Shawn Gerstenberger, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Studies Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Number of Pages

28

Abstract

During the summer of 1999, soil samples were taken from the Overton Wildlife Management Area (OWMA), located in the Moapa Valley of Clark County, Nevada. Although lead shot has been banned for the hunting of waterfowl since 1986, it is still legal for upland game hunting. The field sampled serves primarily as a dove hunting area and is cultivated. A large sample size was taken to indicate the short-term effects of the deposition of lead shot in the area and a small sample size, the long-term. Lead shot was recovered from 64% of the small samples and the estimated concentration was 499,521 pellets/ ha. Forty-eight percent lead shot was recovered from the large samples and the estimated concentration was 64,593 pellets/ ha. The amount of lead shot found in the small samples was 29 and 15 in the large. Comparison was made to fields of similar circumstances around the country and the OWMA supersedes all. Although the OWMA* is cultivating the field to reduce the availability of lead shot at the surface, the data from this study indicates that lead shot is potentially available to wildlife. I recommend that lead shot be banned at the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Keywords

Habitat (Ecology); Lead poisoning in animals; Moapa Valley (Nev.); Nevada; Overton Wildlife Management Area (Nev.); Shot (Pellets); Soil pollution; Waterfowl shooting

Disciplines

Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Sciences | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Repository Citation

Falc, Kristen E., "Two different soil sampling techniques for assessing soil lead concentrations at the Overton Wildlife Management Area, Nevada" (2000). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 273.
http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/1471556

Rights

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