1. Wilderness Stream Sampling in the Green Mountain National Forest by Heather Pembrook Photos by Jim Deshler
Grindstone Brook

2. Why Sample Wilderness Streams?
1964 Wilderness Act description: “untrammeled by man”… yet air pollution knows no boundaries
2004 Wilderness Stewardship Challenge goal: to manage lands to be unimpaired for present and future generations
1 of 10 elements: Air Quality Trends, measured through a of sensitive receptor (AQV): GMNF choose streams as that receptor
Question: Have wilderness streams been adversely affected by air pollution? If so, how much?

3. What was measured and when:
10 Streams sampled 3 times
Spring, Summer, Fall
5 Wilderness Areas
Aiken, Big Branch, Battell, Bristol, Breadloaf
Water chemistry analyzed
Alkalinity, pH, conductivity, color (Acid status)
Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al (Earth metals/Base Cations)
SO4, NO3, Cl (Anions)
TN, TP (Nutrients)
Fish surveys conducted
Temperature probes installed

4. What did we learn? In 2014, Spring was most acidic event:
lowest alk, pH, cond, hardness and base cations, but > Al, NO3,
However, sulfate highest in summer
Nutrients low all year round, highest in summer and spring
All streams were sensitive to acid rain except for McGinn (calcareous area of VT)
Recommend:
characterize streams by sampling over 3 years
macroinvertebrate sampling to compliment water chemistry. McGinn, Smith, West Branch Deerfield have already been samples.

5. GMNF Wilderness Areas North& Gilmore Pond Outlets Bear Wallow &
George Brooks
Grindstone,
Goshen and
Smith Brooks
GMNF Wilderness Areas
Lost Pond Outlet
& McGinn Brook
West Branch of the
Deerfield River

6. North Pond Outlet
Bristol
Bristol Cliff Wilderness Area

7. Gilmore Pond Outlet, Bristol, Bristol Cliff Wilderness Area

8. Bear Wallow
Warren
Breadloaf Wilderness

9. George Brook, Hancock, Breadloaf Wilderness

10. Grindstone Brook,
Hancock,
Battell Wilderness

11. Goshen Brook Trib, Ripton,
Battell Wilderness

12. Smith Brook,
Rochester,
Battell Wilderness

13. Lost Pond Brook, Danby, Big Branch Wilderness

14. McGinn Brook, Danby, Big Branch Wilderness

15. West Branch Deerfield River
Woodford
Aiken Wilderness