New Study Reveals Snowpack Pollution Linked to Historical and Active Mines

Snow in the Rocky Mountains has long been a vital water source for the American West, but a new study reveals that it carries more than just water—it also contains toxic metals from mining operations hundreds of miles away.

Published in Environmental Pollution, the research by Desert Research Institute found that snow across 50 sites in the Rockies contains elevated levels of mercury, zinc, cadmium, and antimony, metals commonly associated with historical and active mining sites.

Tracking Toxic Metals in Snow

Using storm-tracking techniques, researchers pinpointed the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Montana—regions with a long history of mining—as the likely sources of contamination. These pollutants travel through the atmosphere before being deposited in the snow, raising concerns about long-term environmental and public health risks.

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Lead researcher Arienzo noted:

“Metal pollution in the Rockies is relatively understudied. The fact that we have a transect from Montana to New Mexico makes this study unique.”

Why This Pollution Matters

While the contamination remains below EPA toxicity limits, the presence of these metals is still concerning.

Faster Snowmelt: Dust from mining regions reduces the reflectivity of snow, causing it to melt faster than usual. This disrupts water availability for communities relying on gradual snowmelt.
Long-Range Pollution Patterns: The study combined 2018 snow samples with decade-long datasets from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program, confirming that these pollution levels are not a fluke but part of a consistent trend.
Mining-Linked Storm Paths: By overlaying USGS maps of mining sites with storm paths, researchers confirmed that snowstorms originating from mining regions in the northern Rockies carried the highest levels of contamination.

Using Tree Rings to Study Long-Term Pollution

As part of a larger National Science Foundation initiative, researchers are also analyzing tree rings to track historical metal contamination.

Just like snow, trees absorb mercury and other pollutants over time, creating a natural archive of pollution levels. Comparing tree ring data to snow contamination trends could provide deeper insights into how mining-related pollutants spread over decades.

Environmental and Policy Implications

This research underscores the urgent need for ongoing monitoring and mitigation of historical and active mining sites. As industrial legacies resurface in unexpected ways, understanding how pollutants travel through the atmosphere will be key to shaping environmental policies, water management strategies, and cleanup efforts.

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