The content of metals in the bottom sediment samples of the background streams is presented in Table 1. The calculation of the background range and background threshold concentrations of metals proved that streams with elevated concentrations of heavy metals are located in and near the territory of the reserve. For example, elevated concentrations of metals are characteristic for the bottom sediments of the upper reaches of the Dzhigitovka River. The sediments of this river are also characterized by an increased amount of dissolved Zn (Shulkin et al., 2009) due to the presence of polymetallic ore occurrences in the catchment area. The bottom sediment samples taken in rivers Yasnaya and Zabolochennaya also contained elevated concentrations of Zn and Cd, in Tayozhnaya River, Cu and N are associated with polymetallic rocks found in the catchment area of the northeast Sikhote Alin (Radkevych et al., 1962).