Atmospheric deposition, soils developed from bedrock, a natural bog, gas wells, and a ski area were all investigated as possible sources of water quality degradation for four streams on Laurel Hill in southwestern Pennsylvania where fish kills have been reported since 1960. An intensive study of the chemistry of atmospheric deposition, soil leachate, and stream water and fish populations was conducted on these basins during 1980–1981 with emphasis on dormant season periods with runoff from snowmelt and rain. Although bedrock geology was found to control the natural buffering capacity of these streams, only acid precipitation could be linked to sharp drops in pH and increases in total Al concentrations observed during stormflows in the poorly buffered streams. Three poorly buffered streams exhibited drops to pH 4.4 to 4.5 and increases in total Al concentrations up to 1.5 mg/L during observed peak flows. Mineral soil leachate from the three major soil series on the basins during this time exhibited a low pH of 4.3 and mean total Al concentrations of 3.6 mg/L, indicating stream response during storms was closely linked to chemistry of soil leachate. Poorly buffered streams did not support reproducing populations of trout (Salmonidae sp.) or other fishes. In contrast, one well‐buffered stream (20 mg/L CaCO3) exhibited drops to pH 5.5 during peak flow and supported reproducing trout and sculpin (Cottus bairdi) populations. The acidification of the four streams studied was attributed to atmospheric deposition.
A one-year study of benthic macroinvertebrate communities and leaf litter decomposition rates was conducted on Wildcat and McGinnis Runs, two headwater tributaries of Rolling Rock Creek in southwestern Pennsylvania. Previous studies have shown these two streams to be affected by acidic runoff following periods of precipitation and snow-melt. The more highly buffered waters of Wildcat Run support wild fish populations while McGinnis Run lacks native fish fauna. Five benthic macroinvertebrate samples were taken from riffle areas in each stream using a Surber sampler during the spring, summer, fall, and wint&'seasons. Thirty 10-g packs of white ash (Fraxinus americana) leaves were placed in each stream on October 7, 1982, and sampled over a 5-month period to determine per cent weight loss. The benthic macroinvertebrate community of McGinnis Run was found to be depressed compared to that of Wildcat Run in terms of density, diversity, and total taxa. The overall rate of leaf-litter decomposition was also slower in McGinnis Run.
A survey of 61 headwater streams and their watersheds on Pennsylvania's Laurel Hill, an area of high hydrogen ion and sulfate deposition, was conducted in May and June 1983. Trout were absent from 12 or 20 percent of the streams. No fish were present in 10 streams. Thirty‐three streams appeared to contain viable trout populations, 10 streams had other interferring cultural impacts and 6 streams had nonviable trout populations. Significant differences in water quality were noted among streams with and without fish. The streams having no fish as a group had significantly lower pH and alkalinity and higher dissolved aluminum than those with fish. Attempts were made to correlate soil type and geology with the presence or absence of trout. Watersheds with a major percentage of very stony land soil classifications always contained no trout or were culturally impacted. On the other hand, watersheds with a major percentage of Upshur (limestone derived) soils always supported trout. Watersheds with more than 30 percent Pocono Group bedrock supported trout in every case but two, while in every case but one, watersheds with more than 30 percent Pottsville Group bedrock did not support trout. Acid runoff episode data indicate severe transient acidification attributable to atmospheric deposition. It appears that a combination of very stony land, 30 percent Pottsville Group bedrock and high deposition of hydrogen ions and sulfate may result in transient acidification and absence of fish populations from headwater streams on Pennsylvania's Laurel Hill.
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