Researchers: Idaho Mercury Scare Was Based On Faulty Data

A two-year-old warning against eating too many brown trout from Silver Creek near Picabo has been lifted after scientists realized it was based on faulty data.

United States Geological Survey staff noticed the error when they started looking at newer data that showed a dramatic drop in mercury in fish. Reviewing the 2007 report, USGS staff realized the lab had miscalculated last time.

Q: So what does this mean?

A: Few anglers keep Silver Creek fish – much of the stream is managed by the Nature Conservancy for catch-and-release-only fly fishing. So practically speaking, the change won’t mean much. But it does mean that the river has not had the mercury contamination other state waters have shown.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Idaho Statesman