Principal Investigator(s):

Dudley Raynal, Myron Mitchell, Charles Driscoll

Summary:

Project Update (526kb .pdf)

The Adirondack region of New York receives elevated levels of atmospheric deposition of sulfur, nitrogen, and mercury, which has resulted in the acidification of the region's surface waters. Despite reductions in power plant emissions, surface waters in the Adirondacks have shown only limited recovery from acidification. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that additional reductions of S and N deposition may be required for the recovery of sensitive Adirondack lakes.

This project built upon three other research efforts supported by NYSERDA's EMEP program. The goals were to:

• Increase understanding of the causes and long-term effects of acidic deposition in the Adirondacks; and
• Provide reliable information needed for evaluating policies to mitigate these impacts.

This study investigated the factors that affect the rate of recovery from acidification, and improved the reliability of using modeling tools to study additional Adirondack lakes. To better understand mercury cycling, the research also complemented other projects examining Hg deposition over time in the sediments of lakes.

Partners: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation

Downloads:

Project Update (526kb .pdf)

Final report (588kb .pdf)

Project Site(s):

Huntington Forest, North Branch of the Moose River

Latitude/Longitude: (5kb .pdf)

Region(s): North Country

County(ies): Essex, Herkimer

Sampling:

Sampled Medium(Media): lake water, stream water

Analyte(s): mercury, nitrogen, sulfur, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved organic nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, sulfates, calcium, pH, acid neutralizing capacity

Sampling Technolog(ies):

Sampling Frequency: monthly

Funding:

Total Costs: $413,385

NYSERDA Costs: $282,598

Funding Source(s): NYSERDA, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Contract Initiated: March, 2000

Final Report: September, 2004

Links:

Project Website: http://www.esf.edu/hss/NYSERDA/ResearchProjects.htm

Related EMEP Projects: Doug Burns 7606 and 6486_6490, Myron Mitchell 4917 and 8646, Karen Roy 4915, Tim Sullivan 7605, Ron Munson 4916,

Related Link(s):

Contact:

Dudley J. Raynal, Ph.D.
Dean, Instruction and Graduate Studies
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, New York 13210
PH: (315) 470-6599
Fax: (315) 470-6978
Email: djr@mailbox.syr.edu

Myron Mitchell, Ph.D.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
One Forestry Drive
Syracuse, New York 13210-2788
PH: (315) 470-6765
Fax: (315) 470-6996
Email: mitchell@mailbox.syr.edu

Charles Driscoll, Ph.D.
Syracuse University
Center for Environmental Systems Engineering
231 Hinds Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244-1190
PH: (315) 443-3434
Fax: (315) 443-1243
Email: ctdrisco@mailbox.syr.edu