Karen Kesterson Hyer Wildlife Refuge papers
Scope and Contents note
Papers about the selenium pollution of the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge. There are books, newspaper clippings, court cases (Claus vs. U. S. circa 1980), maps, magazines and soil surveys. The collection is an excellent source for the history of selenium build-up in the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge, how pollutants affect wildlife, livestock, crops and humans, the premature aging of lakes, plans to build an experimental desalting plant, water allocation decisions of California, the Grasslands Easement Program and some environmental White House Executive Orders. Personal first-person accounts are also included.
Fresno County farmers wanted to direct their polluted water to the San Francisco Bay through a pipe called the San Luis Drain. Lack of funds and objections of environmentalists aborted the project. The San Luis Drain was stopped in the Kesterson Wildlife Reserve, and dumped pollutants into it. The toxin and selenium began to cause deformities in waterfowl, which drew the attention of the public to the situation.
Dates
- circa 1980-1990
Creator
- Hyer, Karen (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Restricted access; Curator permission required.
Conditions Governing Use note
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Karen Kesterson Hyer Wildlife Refuge papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Karen Hyer is a fish and wildlife biologist. She works at The Office of Subsistence Management, a branch of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Extent
33 cartons (33 linear feet)
1 box (0.5 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Books, articles, newspaper clippings, court case documents, personal accounts, maps and soil surveys related to the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge in California, circa 1980-1990.
Custodial History note
Donated by Karen Hyer in 1997.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donated; Karen Hyer; 1997.
Appraisal note
Environmental History (20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts collection development 5.V).
Processing Information note
Processed; H. Christine Swindler; 2007.
Processed; Mary Downs; 2009.
- Title
- Register of Karen Hyer Kesterson Wildlife Refuge papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Karen Glenn, H. Christine Swindler, and Mary Downs, student processors, and John Murphy, curator
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
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Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States