Observation After recent earthquakes some people are noticing a decline in the water quality from private wells. More sediment and a change in color. At Trina Bishop's house the water turned her bath tub orange.
LEO says: According to news reports Port Heiden has received a "swarm" of earthquakes since April 2, 2016. According to State Seismologist Michael West, “If we look back over the past 15 years or so at earthquake activity in the area of Port Heiden that’s shallow in the earth what we can say is that the vast majority of those, meaning more than half of them, have occurred thus far in 2016.
Port Heiden is located near the Aniakchak Monument and Preserve, the site of a huge caldera from when the volcano exploded 3500 years ago.
The homes in Port Heiden receive water from private wells located at a depth between about 40 and 120 feet. In speaking with the tribal council environmental manager Scott Anderson, there are a number of the older homes which are experiencing problems with the quality of water that they are getting from the wells. Further investigation would be needed to determine which wells are experiencing problems, and whether the timing of the problems are associated with seismic events. M. Brubaker
ANTHC Consult: Erica Mitchell, LEO Network Coordinator at ANTHC, writes: ANTHC Center for Climate and Health staff recently visited Port Heiden to conduct an assessment of environmental change. The assessment process included speaking with residents about observed changes, and reviewing existing research. According to an aquifer characterization report by Burns Consulting Services, prepared for the community in April of 2004, the wells in Port Heiden may be drawing water from a shallow, unconfined, aquifer. This shallow aquifer is refilled from precipitation, varies in quality based on location. Burns Consulting noted, that due to the rate of coastal erosion around the Port Heiden, saltwater could potentially leach into the groundwater and contaminate the wells. Concern about well water quality were voiced during the visit to Port Heiden.
Resource:
Alaska Earthquake Center – Provides "definitive earthquake information to the public, emergency managers, scientists and engineers. This information is derived from the network of seismic monitoring stations we operate across the state. Our data center is at the Geophysical Institute on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus."
Quake Bulletin – Port Heiden, Alaska
Media:
KDLG Public Radio – (2016-04-01) Earthquakes near Port Heiden rattle all weekend, "A series of earthquakes that shook residents of Southwest Alaska over the weekend appears to have no connection to eruptions at Mount Pavlof volcano a week prior. The quake and its aftershocks were felt as far away as Dillingham, Naknek and Kohkanok." By Dave Bendinger, Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Alaska Public Media – (2016-11-28) Earthquake swarm in Port Heiden continues, "Earthquakes have rattled through Port Heiden more often than usual this year. Michael West is the State Seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center. He called this uptake in earthquakes in the area a swarm. Sometimes swarms stop abruptly, West noted, but more often they fade away." By Avery Lill, KDLG - Dillingham
