Examining Long-range Transport of Montrose DDE via Marine Mammals

Funding will be provided through the FWS Carlsbad Field Office and is made available from the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program. Marine mammals, particularly California sea lions, beach-cast on the Central coast are a potential source of food for reintroduced California condors. Marine mammals that forage in the Southern California Bight are exposed to residual DDE contamination associated with discharges from the Montrose Chemical Corporation. The overall goal of the project is to examine the long-term transport of Montrose DDE via marine mammals and evaluate the risk to California condors. The project includes a literature review, coordination with marine mammal researchers, identification of data gaps, targeted sample analysis using existing marine mammal tissue archives, data interpretation, and condor risk assessment modeling.Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. In particular, the Service will: 1) provide technical information and data to UCSC during the study, 2) collaborate with UCSC in carrying out Scope of Work for study, 3) review and approve of work before next stage can begin, 4) compile all comments provided by Montrose Trustee Council agencies on review drafts of work products, and 5) provide funding for the project.