Carson River Mercury Superfund Site Story Map

In 1859, miners discovered large natural deposits of gold and silver, known as the Comstock Lode, in the area of Carson City, Virginia City and Dayton, Nevada. Miners used toxic mercury to process ore at 236 different mill sites. Over the following decades, this mining process released 14 million pounds of mercury into the environment, including the Carson River and downstream water bodies. Today, health advisories warn against eating fish from these waters due to high levels of mercury found in fish tissue.

EPA designated this area as the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site in 1990.