Widespread chemical dilution of streams continues as long-term effects of acidic deposition slowly reverse.

Studies of recovery from acidic deposition have focused on reversal of acidification and its associated effects, but as recovery proceeds slowly, chemical dilution of surface waters is emerging as a key factor in the recovery process that has significant chemical and biological implications. This investigation uses long-term chemical records from 130 streams in the Adirondack region of New York, USA, to evaluate the role of ongoing decreases in conductance, an index of dilution, in the recovery of these streams. Stream chemistry data spanning up to 40 years (1980s-2022) showed that acid-neutralizing capacity has increased in 92% of randomly selected streams, but that harmful levels of acidification still occur in 37% of these streams.

Recent, widespread nitrate decreases may be linked to persistent dissolved organic carbon increases in headwater streams recovering from past acidic deposition.

Long-term monitoring of water quality responses to natural and anthropogenic perturbation of watersheds informs policies for managing natural resources. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate (NO) in streams draining forested landscapes provide valuable information on ecosystem function due to their biogeochemical reactivity and solubility in water. Here we evaluate a 20-year record (2001-2021) of biweekly stream-water samples (n > 3000) and continuous discharge in three forested catchments in the Adirondack region of New York to investigate and interpret long-term trends in DOC and NO concentrations.

Assessing inputs of aquaculture-derived nutrients to streams using dissolved organic matter fluorescence.

Salmon aquaculture is an important economic activity globally where local freshwater supplies permit land-based salmon aquaculture facilities to cultivate early life stage salmon. Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter in aquaculture effluents contribute to the eutrophication of adjacent and downstream rivers and lakes. This study quantifies the enrichment of nutrients in land-based salmon aquaculture facility effluents compared to receiving waters.