Acid rain. Federal research into effects on waters and forests

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5682901

Research directed at identifying the adverse effects of acid deposition on lakes and streams included 81 projects as of the end of fiscal year 1985. Initial task force analyses of research results indicate that certain lakes in the eastern states are acidic. Under the task force's present research schedule, it will be a year or more before research determines the condition of other lakes and streams identifies which lakes have a high potential of becoming acidic in the future, and addresses questions about the extent of damage done to fish and other aquatic life. Research directed at identifying the adverse effects of acid deposition on forests included 17 projects as of the end of fiscal year 1985. Forests did not emerge as a major research issue until 1983, and research funding for forest effects in fiscal year 1985 tripled the total funding for the three previous fiscal years. The task force estimates that it will be 5 or more years before research defines the extent of forest decline and acid deposition's role in forest change. Acid deposition research funding increased from $29 million in fiscal year 1984 to $65 million in fiscal year 1985. The fiscal year 1986 proposed budget calls for $85.4 million; about 51% of this funding is slated for work on water and forest research. No recommendations are given.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
• OSTI ID: 5682901
• Report Number(s): GAO/RCED-86-7; ON: TI86901428
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
510600 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Regulations-- (-1989)
520600* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Regulations -- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
FORESTS
NAPAP
RAIN
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SURFACE WATERS