Acid Rain in the Adirondacks By: Kaydee Oliver December 8, 2011

Acid Rain Causes: Fossil fuel burning industries and other human activities Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide Natural Causes Forms of Acid Precipitation: Dry Deposition

Adirondack State Park About the Adirondacks: 6 million acres (privately owned, state owner, “Forever Wild Preserve) 3,000 lakes 30,000 miles of rivers and streams

History Acid Rain & The Adirondack State Park 1852 Robert Angus Smith, Manchester England 1951 C.V “Major” Bowes – Adirondacks Discovery 1970 largest impact of acid rain

Acid Rain Target Why? Located in a mountain range Buffering Capacity - soil is only about 10,000 years old - texture sandy and slightly acidic - tends to be infertile

Acid Rain Impact on Lakes 1,469/3,000 lakes are acidic under the pH of 5.6 In 2000 Big Moose Lake, largest dead lake of 1,266 acres Little Echo Lake pH of 4.2 most acidic body of water * Some lakes are coming back to life due to stricter laws and regulations on industrial pollutants. Brooke Trout Lake is one of them.

Acid Rain Impact on Lakes Impacted Organism: Fish very few can live in highly acidic waters Invertebrates Other species such as otters and loons have to relocated to a different food source if lakes die out and there is not enough food left.

Acid Rain: Mercury Poisoning in Lakes Mercury consumption isn’t just unsafe for humans other species also suffer from it: Nerve Damage Behavioral Changes

Acid Rain: Aluminum Poisoning in Lakes Released from the soil into the watershed 0.1 mg/L of Al is poisonous to fish at pH level of Aluminum ions collect on fish gills creating slimy layers

Acid Rain: Impacts on Adirondacks Forest Sugar Maple Depletion: Calcium loss less seed production -However Beech trees are starting to thrive

Acid Rain Impact on Humans Problems due to Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides: Asthma Bronchitis lung problems Can cause premature death Other problem: Rusting

Acid Rain Control 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments - decreased Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide emissions - companies required to use scrubbers, also used on vehicle tail pipes Educate People Use Less Fossil Fuels

Any Questions?

Works Cited (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from Acid Rain in the Adirondacks Past, Present and Future: Acid Rain. (2011, March 24). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from United States Environmental Protection Agency: Agency, A. P. (2003 ). Geology of the Adirondack Park. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from New York State Adirondack Park Agency : B.V, L. ( ). Aluminum and water: reaction mechanisms, environmental impact and health effects. Retrieved December 2, 2011, from Water Treatment Solutions Lenntech : and-water.htm Cappiello, D. (2000, September 12). Lake shows little revival. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from Light For All The Baltimore Sun : Effects of Acid Rain on Adirondack Lakes. (1998 ). Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Department of Enviromental Conservation : MSNBC. (2011). Retrieved October 29, 2011, from Dead lake comes back to life, at least for now: New York State Adirondack State Park Agency. (2003). Retrieved October 28, 2011, from New York Times. (1985, April 30 ). Retrieved October 29, 2011, from SCIENCE WATCH; Reviving 'Dead' Lakes: