Episodic acidification and associated fish and aquatic invertebrate responses in four Catskill Mountain streams: An interim report of the Episodic Response Project. Open File Report

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5230149

Murdoch, P S; Bonitz, C E; Eakin, K W; Ranalli, A J; Witt, E C

The Episodic Response Project is a multidisciplinary research project designed to assess the role of storm and snowmelt runoff in stream acidification and the associated responses of fish and invertebrates. Four streams in the Catskill region of eastern New York were selected to represent the following conditions: (1) high acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) with no acidic episodes annually, (2) high ANC with few acidic episodes, (3) moderate to low ANC with few acidic episodes, and (4) low ANC with frequent acidic episodes. Results of the first 9 months of research in the Catskill region indicate that storm and snowmelt runoff are associated with short periods of stream acidification that, if sufficiently severe, lead to fish mortality or migration away from acidic reaches. Increased discharge coincided with decreased pH and increased total aluminum concentrations in all four streams.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Alexandria, VA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5230149
• Report Number(s): PB-91-216382/XAB; USGS/OFR--90/566
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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