The influence of wildfire-storm cycles on radionuclide contaminant transport at the Pueblo de San Ildefonso is a webinar presentation that was recorded on February 27, 2019:
The Pueblo de San Ildefonso is located directly adjacent and downstream of the
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico. Releases of hazardous
substances from this nuclear facility dating back to the 1940s have resulted in
a legacy of contamination, including radionuclides, metals and other
contaminants in local canyons. In particular, canyon-bottom soils and sediments
in Los Alamos and Pueblo canyons are contaminated with plutonium and other
radionuclides upstream of the Pueblo de San Ildefonso. We evaluated the effect
of cycles of wildfire and subsequent storm events on the mobilization and
transport of plutonium in the canyons, and impacts to the Pueblo. Forest fires,
including the 2000 Cerro Grande and the 2011 Las Conchas fires, have resulted
in decreased soil/sediment retention in the canyon watersheds, and increased
sediment transport during subsequent storm events. This has in turn resulted in
mobilization and downstream transport of sediment-bound plutonium
contamination, and deposition on Pueblo lands.
Presented by: Raymond Martinez and Michael Chacon from the Pueblo de San Ildefonso and Kaylene Ritter from Abt Associates
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