The Nevada Irrigation District is just about ready to begin testing new innovative equipment in Lake Combie.  N-I-D General Manager, Ron Nelson, says they're going to begin working with it in a few days.

“The first part of next week when we start experimenting with some of the new equipment that was built just for this purpose. We’ll be out using that equipment next week.”

Nelson says the district has modified its routine dredging to remove gold mine era mercury from the water.

“The equipment is designed to separate mercury from the sands and rocks and other material that we’re going to take out of Lake Combie.”

Nelson says the equipment has been in existence for a while, but this is a new, innovative way of using it.

“We’re not aware of anybody that’s attempting anything like this which is to remove elemental mercury from the environment and we’re very hopeful we’re on the right track.”

Nelson says this technology may resolve many of the issues concerning water quality that have affected the Gold Country for decades.