Kesterson Reservoir

Pickering I.J., Brown G.E.Jr., Tokunaga T. X-ray absorption spectroscopy of selenium transformations in Kesterson Reservoir soils. Environ Sci Technol 1995 29 2456-2459. 

Ohlendorf, H.M., R.L. Hothem, C.M. Bunck, and K.C. Marois. 1990. Bioaccumulation of selenium in birds at Kesterson Reservoir, California. Arch. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 19 495-507. 

Ohlendorf, H.M., R.L. Hothem, and D. Welsh. 1989. Nest success, cause-specific nest failure, and hatchability of aquatic birds at selenium-contaminated Kesterson Reservoir and a reference site. Condor 91 787-796. 

Williams, M.L., R.L. Hothem, and H.M. Ohlendorf. 1989. Recruitment failure in American avocets and blacknecked stilts nesting at Kesterson Reservoir, California, 1984—1985. Condor 91 797-802. 

The irrigation systems were constructed in this valley in 1930-1960s. It was found afterward that irrigation drainage water from parts of the San Joaquin Valley contains levels of selenium and other trace elements that have been implicated in bird deformations in the Kesterson Reservoir. Depending on location and season, the drainage water contains 100-1400 pg/L Se, predominantly as selenate (SeO 2, Se-IV), the most soluble form, whereas the California State Water Resources Control Board has recommended an interim maximum mean monthly selenium concentration of 2-5 pg/L in receiving waters and wetlands. 

In the lower fan areas Se concentrations were monitored up to 400 pg/L. Similar historical distribution of soil Se content and shallow groundwater content indicate that dissolved selenium species were leached from saline soils by irrigation water. The drainage discharge of shallow groundwater and subsurface irrigation water was accompanied by increasing accumulation of Se in Kesterson Reservoir. 

Aquatic birds nesting at Kesterson Reservoir in 1983 were found to have high rates of embryo deformities and mortality. Beginning in 1984, adult birds were also found dead in unusually high numbers. Through a series of field and laboratory studies, these effects were attributed to the exceptionally high concentrations of selenium in the biogeochemical food web of the birds. 

TokunagaTK, LiptonDS, Benson SM, Yee AW, Oldfather JM, Duckar EC, Johannis PW, HalvorsenKE (1991) Soil selenium fractionation, depth profiles and time trends in a vegetated site at Kesterson Reservoir. Water Air Soil Pollut 57 31-41... 

Schuler, C.A. 1987. Impacts of Agricultural Drainwater and Contaminants on Wetlands at Kesterson Reservoir, California. M.S. Thesis. Oregon State Univ., Corvalhs, OR. 136 pp. 

Basin lead to oxidation of the sediments (Schroeder et al., 2002). Such a process has already occurred at Kesterson Reservoir (Section 9.02.7.4.1). The change of land use, for example, from wet paddy soils to dryland agriculture, could also lead to an increase in uptake of selenium by crops (Yang et al, 1983). 

Tokunaga T., Zawislanski P., Johannis P., Lipton D., and Benson S. (1994) Field investigations of selenium specia-tion, transformation, and transport in soils from Kesterson Reservoir and Lahontan valley. In Selenium in the Environment (eds. W. T. Frankenberger and S. Benson). Dekker, New York, chap. 5, pp. 119-138. 

Zawislanski P. T. and Zavarin M. (1996) Nature and rates of selenium transformations in Kesterson Reservoir soils a laboratory study. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 60, 791-800. 

Horne AJ. 1991. Selenium detoxification in wetlands by permanent flooding I. Effects on a macroalga, an epiphytic herbivore, and an invertebrate predator in the long-term mesocosm experimental at Kesterson Reservoir, California. Water Air Soil Pollut 57-58 43-52. 

Long RH, Benson SM, Tokunaga TK, et al. 1990. Selenium immobilization in a pond sediment at Kesterson Reservoir. J Environ Qual 19(2) 302-311. 

Figure 20. Se -edge XANES spectra of (A) Se-containing model compounds (a) Se042 (aq), (b) SeC>32 (aq), (c) selenomethionine (aq), (d) elemental (red) selenium (monoclinic) (B) (a) Se in Kesterson Reservoir soil at depth of 0 to 0.05 m (340 ppm Se), (b) Se in Kesterson Reservoir soil at depth of 0.05 to 0.15 m (40 ppm Se), (c) Se in mushroom (Agaricus bernardii) collected adjacent to the reservoir (500 ppm Se). Linear combination fits of the Se K-XANES of the three Kesterson samples resulted in the following components (a) 97% elemental Se + 3% aqueous selenite (b) 86% elemental selenium + 14% aqueous selenite (c) 71% selenomethionine + 11% aqueous selenite + 18% selenocystine. Data were taken on SSRL beam line 4-3. (after Pickering et al. 1995)...

Ohlendorf HM, Santolo GM (1994) Kesterson Reservoir - past, present, and future An ecological risk assessment. In Frankenberger WT Jr, Benson S (eds) Selenium in the Environment. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, p 69-117... 

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