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BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A three-year study at Bighorn Reservoir will attempt to determine the source of high mercury levels in the lake's fish.
A 2004 study by the U.S. Geological Survey determined fish from Bighorn Reservoir had the third-highest mercury levels of more than 500 fish sampled nationwide.
Bighorn Reservoir sprawls over some 200 square miles in Wyoming and Montana. USGS officials say mercury in the lake could come from both natural and man-made sources.
The Helena Independent Record reports (http://bit.ly/1A2b0xJ ) possible man-made sources include mine tailings in the nearby Pryor Mountains. Natural sources could include forest fires and geologic features.
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Information from: Independent Record, http://www.helenair.com
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