settled out. Sediment levels measured in California and French Creek have 

 the potential to harm the habitat of these streams especially under circum- 

 stances of frequent or prolonged precipitation near Sugarloaf Mountain. 



A secondary result of the sediment loads produced into California and 

 French Creeks was an elevation in the amount of total recoverable iron. 

 Total iron concentration reached 6.5 mg/1 in California Creek and 1.7 mg/1 

 in French Creek. These values represent a 650 and 100 percent increase over 

 the highest level of total iron measured in any other sample. Levels of 

 dissolved iron, which can be toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations 

 (1.0 mg/1) did not increase appreciably at this time. This is due to the 

 low solubility of iron under the aerobic conditions found in streams. 

 Precipitated compounds of ferric (oxidized) iron, however, have been found 

 to be detrimental to fish populations both as suspended floes and settled 

 materials on stream bottoms (USEPA, 1976). Ferric hydroxide precipitates have 

 been found to coat fish gills, smother fish eggs and reduce communities of 

 benthic invertebrates and periphyton. 



Sediment and iron loads produced into California and French Creeks 

 represent threats to the aquatic habitat potential. These streams supported 

 the lowest estimated trout populations among all of the streams that were 

 surveyed on the Mount Haggin area. 



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