The USGS is conducting research at uranium-bearing breccia pipe deposits to address data gaps related to the potential effects of uranium exploration and mining activities on the Grand Canyon watershed, its people, wildlife, and water resources. Study locations are primarily on Federal lands with a few locations on Tribal lands, and include historic and active mines.

Habitats in the Grand Canyon watershed support diverse plants and animals that include threatened and endangered species as well as those that are culturally significant. Habitats that are close to the many springs throughout the region have a species diversity that is 100 to 500 times greater than that of the surrounding area.

Research is being conducted to evaluate:

1. Whether uranium exploration and mining can change these habitats, and
2. Exposure to elements associated with the uranium ore deposits, such as:
   

Prioritizing potential routes of exposure, including wind-borne dusts, surface- and groundwater, soil, sediment, and food-chain pathways, as well as describing and understanding relations among routes and receptors, will improve our ability to describe risk at landscape scales and at various levels within the ecosystems of the Southwest. Understanding the risk of exposure from uranium exploration and mining is crucial for managing the resources of the Grand Canyon watershed, such as the Colorado River—a source of recreational and drinking water for upwards of 30 million people and a critical source of agricultural and industrial waters in the southwestern United States.

This research is supported by the Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology Programs of the Ecosystems Mission Area at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These programs at the USGS work to safeguard the Nation's health, economy, and resources using leading science to understand and minimize exposures to toxicological and infectious disease agents in the environment.