An Overview of Ecological Studies of Wildlife Potentially Impacted by the Kingston Ash Spill

Abstract

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a multi-purpose federal agency that on December 22, 2008 suffered a retaining wall failure at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County, Tennessee. This event released approximately 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash into the Emory River. TVA and cooperators are assessing impacts of the spill to wildlife resources in the area. Groups of wildlife included in these studies include piscivorous, insectivorous, and herbivorous birds; spring breeding amphibians; aquatic reptiles; and terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammals. These studies will serve as the foundation for upcoming work that will determine whether key ecological receptors have experienced any adverse biological effects from exposure to trace elements from the ash spill.