Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Episodic acidification of three streams in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Short-term acidification of surface waters in the eastern United States accompanying rainfall and snowmelt events represents an important aspect of the regional acidification problem. The objectives of this field study were to (1) examine the changes in acid-base chemistry during stormflow conditions, (2) understand the hydrological flowpaths that control streamwater acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), and (3) evaluate the contribution of individual ions to the overall changes in streamwater ANC. Three forested mountain streams in Shenandoah National Park (Paine Run, Piney River, and Staunton River) were chosen based on their similar catchment size (11–13 km2) but different bedrock geology and baseflow ANC. Throughout the three-year study, samples were collected at eight-hour intervals (primarily to establish antecedent baseflow conditions), and at two-hour intervals during events until the flow receded. All samples were analyzed for pH, ANC, and all major cations and anions. During storm events, pH and ANC decreases were observed in all streams, with ANC becoming negative several times in Paine Run. Base cation concentrations typically increased in Paine Run and Staunton River, but usually decreased in Piney River. Sulfate and nitrate concentrations generally increased in all streams. Antecedent baseflow ANC was found to be the best predictor of the minimum ANC. The data from more than 40 episodes on these streams (initiated by 25 different storm events) are interpreted to evaluate the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of acidity to these acid-sensitive natural waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bulger, A.J., Cosby, B.J., Eshleman, K.N., Galloway, J.N., Webb, J.R., and Dolloff, C.A.: Water, Air and Soil Pollution, (this issue).

  • Carline, R.F., DeWalle, D.R., Sharpe, W.E., Dempsey, B.A., Gagen, C.J., and Swistock, B.: 1992, Environ. Pollut. 78, 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, T.D., Tranter, M., Wigington, P.J., and Eshleman, K.N.: 1992, J. Hydrol. 132, 25–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, T.D., Tranter, M., Wigington, P.J., Eshleman, K.N., Van Sickle, J., DeWalle, D.R., and Murdoch, P.: Water Resour. Res., (in review).

  • Eshleman, K.N.: 1988, Water Resour. Res. 24, 1118–1126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eshleman, K.N.: 1992, Water Resour. Res. 28, 2869–2873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eshleman, K.N., Davies, T.D., Tranter, M., and Wigington, P.J.: 1995, Water Resour. Res. 31, 1011–1021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eshleman, K.N., Miller-Marshall, L.M., and Webb, J.R.: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, (this issue).

  • Haines, T.A.: 1981, Transactions Of The American Fisheries Society 110, 669–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller-Marshall, L.M.: 1993, Episodic Acidification in Shenandoah National Park, Master's Thesis, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, pp. 166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molot, L.A., Dillon, P.J., and LaZerte, B.D.: 1989, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 46, 1658–1666.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien, A.K., Rice, K.C., Kennedy, M.M., and Bricker, O.P.: 1993, Water Resour. Res. 29, 3029–3039.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter, F.I., Lynch, J.A., and Corbett, E.S.: 1988, J. Contam. Hydrol., 3, 293–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, M., Davies, T.D., Wigington, P.J., and Eshleman, K.N.: 1994, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 72, 19–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, J.R., Galloway, J.N., and Deviney, F.A. Shenandoah Watershed Study Program Evaluation. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1993, p. 50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, J.R., Cosby, B.J., Eshleman, K.N., and Galloway, K.N.: Water Air and Soil Pollution, (this issue).

  • Wigington, P.J., Davies. T.D., Tranter, M., and Eshleman, K.N.: 1990, “Episodic Acidification Of Surface Waters Due To Acidic Deposition”, NAPAP Report 12, In: Acidic Deposition: State Of Science And Technology. National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program.

  • Wigington, P.J., Davies, T.D., Tranter, M., and Eshleman, K.N.: 1992, Environ. Pollut. 78, 29–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigington, P.J., Baker, J.P., DeWalle, D.R., Krester, W.A., Murdoch, P.S., Simonin, H.A., Van Sickle, J., McDowell, M.K., Peck, D.V., and Barchet, W.R.: 1993, “Episodic Acidification of Streams in the Northeastern United States: Chemical and Biological Results of the Episodic Response Project”, United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-93/190.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, 22903, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    K. E. Hyer, J. R. Webb & K. N. Eshleman

Authors
  1. K. E. Hyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. R. Webb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. N. Eshleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hyer, K.E., Webb, J.R. & Eshleman, K.N. Episodic acidification of three streams in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 523–528 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476882

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476882

Keywords

Search

Navigation