You are here:
EPISODIC ACIDIFICATION OF STREAMS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES: CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESULTS OF THE EPISODIC RESPONSE PROJECT
Citation:
Wigington, P., J. Baker, D. DeWalle, W. Kretser, P. Murdoch, H. Simonin, J. VanSickle, M. McDowell, D. Peck, AND W. Barchet. EPISODIC ACIDIFICATION OF STREAMS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES: CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESULTS OF THE EPISODIC RESPONSE PROJECT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-93/190 (NTIS PB94114923).
Description:
The Episodic Response Project (ERP) was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Aquatic Effects Research Program (AERP), which was established to study the effects of acidic deposition on aquatic ecosystems. he ERP was conducted to address uncertainties about the occurrence, nature, and effects of episodic acidification. t was designed as an intensive study at a relatively small number of selected sites, rather than an extensive regional survey. t was conducted in three priority areas; the Adirondack Mountains of New York, the Catskill Mountains of New Yolk, and the Northern Appalachian Plateau of Pennsylvania. he ERP was a cooperative research effort involving scientists from several different agencies. he U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR (ERL-C) served as the project lead. ach stream was monitored intensively from fall 1988 through spring 1990. ischarge was measured continuously on each study stream, using either a pressure transducer connected to a data logger or strip chart, or a water level recorder. utomated samplers were programmed to collect water samples at fixed time intervals (2-6 hours) or at specified changes on stage levels. ield crews also collected samples manually on a weekly basis, as well during episodes when problems occurred with the automated samplers. ater samples were analyzed for ANC, pH, total dissolved aluminum (Al), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), chloride (Cl-), calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. n addition a subset were analyzed for inorganic aluminum (Ali.) , the fraction of aluminum considered toxic to fish. pecific streams, participating institutions and cooperators, methods and results are presented in the report.