streams with contaminated sediments have also found low concentrations in the water column (Bycroft et al. 1982, EPA 1984, NSR 1988). However, Ealey et al. (1983) and EPA (1984) reporte9 elevated mercury concentration in the water column immediately downstream of the Al Mine (50 and 11 mg m-' respectively). Al Mine was the major source of mercury contamination to Raspberry Creek, discharging contaminated tailings to the creek up until its closure in the mid 1970s. Mercury in sediments and tailings CRESWICK - Only background concentrations of mercury were detected in Creswick Creek in the 1984 sampling program (Table 3). However, in early 1986 the Creswick battery began operating, which resulted in the discharge of tailings to Creswick Creek. Subsequent extensive sampling of Creswick Creek identified substantial contamination (Tobie 4). The tailings dam at the Creswick battery was also grossly contaminated (Table 4). MARYBOROUGH - Concentrations measured in McCallum Creek in 1984 (Tobie 3) were considerably higher than subsequently measured in 1986 (Tobie 4). The nearby tailings dam was not contaminated (Table 4), but was eroding. These data suggest that t)Ie source of mercury in McCallum Creek was not the nearby tailings dam, but originated from further upstream. CHEWTON - WATTLE GULLY MINE - The tailings dams at Wattle Gully Mine were contaminated with mercury (Tobie 4). High concentrations were also measured in the roadside drain adjacent to the tailings dams (Tobie 4). Further investigations by National System Research Pty Ltd (NSR, 1988) for the mine owners, Newmont Australia Limited, indicate substantial downstream Table 2 Mercury concentrations in the water column (mg m-') of several streams in Victoria (EPA Fixed Site Monitoring Network) Stream Site Location Deep Crk . Jacksons Crk. Maribyrnong R. Maribyrnong R. Maribyrnong R. Werribee R. Werribee R . Werribee R. Werribee R. Werribee R. Little R. Barwon R. Barwon R. Hopkins R. Mt. Emu Crk. Glenelg R. Wannon R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Yarra R. Kororoit Crk. Kororoit Crk. Mordialloc Crk. Dandenong Crk . Da_ndenong Crk. Patterson R. Ovens R . Ovens R . Goulburn R. Goulburn R . Campaspe R . Campaspe R. Loddon R. Loddon R. Avoca R. Avoca R. Wimmera R. Wimmera R . Wimmera R. Wimmera R . Wimmera R . Tambo R. Mitchell R . Mitchell R. Macalister R. Thomson R . Avon R. Latrobe R . Latrobe R. Latrobe R. Latrobe R. Bulla Sunbury Keilor Avondale Heights Keilor East Werribee Cobbledicks Ford ul s Toolern Crk. Bacchus Marsh ul s Bacchus Marsh di s Little R. Geelong Ricketts Marsh Framlington Taroon Casterton Henty Fairfield Heidelberg Warrandyte Healesville Lilydale Launching Place Woori Yallock Altona Deep Park Mordialloc Rowville Keysborough Bangholme Peechelba East Bright Tarwool Murray Valley Hwy. Rochester Redesdale Appin South Newstead Yawong Ampitheatre ul s Horsham Horsham di s Horsham di s MacKenzie R. Dimboola Battens Landing Rosehill Iguana Crk. Riverslea Gibson-Knox Stratford Rosedale Morwell Yallourn Willow Grove < Less than detection limit Hg Concentration Median Maximum < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < 0.40 0.50 2.00 0.10 0.10 < < 0.30 < 0.40 0.40 0.63 0.50 0.41 0.20 2.50 0.10 1.40 1.40 0.60 0.30 0.10 0.08 0.30 0.50 0. 10 0.50 0.50 0.60 0.60 0. 10 0.10 0.30 0.20 6.20 0.40 37.00 11.00 21.00 32.00 0.10 0.50 0.07 0.30 0.40 0.20 0.30 0.20 0.60 0.30 0.90 0.70 I.IO 0.90 0.30 contamination. NSR suggested that unlesSi.remedial action were taken to isolate the tailings, they would continue to be a source of mercury in nearby water courses. WANDILIGONG - Mercury concentrations in Morses Creek in 1984 (Tobie 3) were considerably higher than those measured in 1986 (Table 4). Mercury concentrations in the tailings dam were high (Table 4). However, there appeared to be no surface discharge to Morses Creek. UPPER GOULBURN RIVER - The data from the intensive sampling of both sediments and water in the catchment of the Upper Goulburn River, performed in 1988, are summarised in Table 5, and the results of the sampling of two mines tailings dams are summarised in Table 6. The old tailings at Al Mine and scattered Table 3 Mercury concentrations in stream sediments (ug g- 1) near abandoned and operating stamping batteries, 1984. Site 500m u/ s Location Stream Dargo Club Terrace Granya Rutherglen Ballarat East Italian Gully Creswick Daylesford Stawell Moliagul Tarnagulla Lauriston Chewton Maryborough Maldon Bendigo Walhalla Gaffney's Crk Beechworth Wandiligong Al Mine Settlement Myers Flat Orr Crk Euchre Crk Cottontree Crk Black Dog Crk Canadian Crk Smyths Crk Creswick Crk Wombat Crk Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Coliban R. Unnamed McCallum Crk Tarrengower Crk Bendigo Crk Stringer Crk Raspberry Crk Three Mile Crk Morses Crk Raspberry Crk Myers Crk ul s upstream 50m u/s 50m di s 500m dis 0.04 0.07 0.D2 0.04 0.16 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.56 0.24 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.85 0.85 0.05 0.43 0.17 0.12 OM 0.06 < 0.02 < 0.02 0.03 0.D7 0.02 0.06 < 0.02 < 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.09 0.06 0.D7 0.D7 0.13 1.50 0.06 0.D7 0.03 0.13 < 0.02 0.22 5.60 5.60 0.25 0.44 0.22 1.80 2.20 2.20 0.04 0.32 < 0.02 0.1 7 0.35 0.43 0.25 0.54 1.60 1.30 33 .00 15.00 0.26 0.06 0.08 0.23 0.17 0.48 0.28 0.43 21.00 13.00 13.00 17 .00 0,80 0.18 0.20 0.35 0. 71 0.12 0.02 0.22 di s downstream Table 4 Mercury concentration in stream sediments (ug g- 1) and tailings (ug g- 1) at Creswick, Maryborough, Chewton and Wandiligong, 1986 1 Location Site Creswick (Creswick Battery) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 l 2 3 Maryborough (Poppet Head Mine) Chewton (Wattle Gully Mine) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wandiligong (Morses Creek Battery) uls upstream I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mercury Location Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Drain Creswick Crk 20m ul s Creswick Crk 20m dis Creswick Crk 1km dis Creswick Crk 2km di s Creswick Crk 11 km di s Creswick Crk 24km dis Birch Crk Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam McCallum Crk 100m ul s McCallum Crk 500m di s McCallum Crk 700m di s Road side drain Drain Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Tailings dam Morses Crk 50m ul s Morses Crk 50m di s Concentration 150.0 8.2 19.0 10.0 18.0 4.9 17.0 1.2 6.0 1.8 2.6 l.9 0.D28 0.028 0.051 0.021 0.015 0.040 0.024 0.026 0.020 0.036 0.056 5.0 8.0 4.1 6.8 7.2 11.0 7.8 6.0 8.7 7.5 8.3 6.8 5.4 5.6 8.1 40.0 21.0 28.0 0.44 0.44 di s downstream WATER December, 1989 21