Transport of perchlorate in the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead
This thesis investigates the fate of perchlorate in the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead resulting from the long-term contamination by the manufacturing of rocket fuels in Henderson, Nevada. The changes in perchlorate concentrations for the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead were investigated for the last 10 years by analyzing frozen water samples. An attempt was made to model the transport of perchlorate along the Wash, and to observe the transport and mixing of perchlorate within the Lake. Statistical analyses were performed to observe seasonal variations in perchlorate levels within the epilimnion, metalimnion and hypolimnion layers of the Lake, and to correlate perchlorate levels with total dissolved solids concentrations. Investigation showed that multiple sources contribute to the perchlorate contamination in the Wash. Perchlorate levels had increased significantly from 1995. Lake stratification strongly influences perchlorate levels within each thermal layer; lake storage level is less significant.
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