Initial results of an Atlantic salmon river acid mitigation program
LE3 .A278 2008
Master of Science
Acid precipitation negatively affects Atlantic salmon and other aquatic organisms. As stream acidity has not decreased concurrently with decreasing industrial emissions, immediate mitigation initiatives are required for the persistence of some salmon populations. The West River, Sheet Harbour Acid Mitigation project was designed to treat the once prolific salmon river. A monitoring program was conducted over 2.5 years to assess the early impacts of lime additions to the downstream aquatic communities. While signs of salmon recovery are assumed to require at minimum 3.5 years, preliminary signs of recovery were shown in stream chemistry and aquatic invertebrate communities. Acidity levels were reduced to those conducive to successful juvenile Atlantic salmon survival. Downstream aquatic invertebrate communities increased in abundance and realized shifts in relative dominance of some taxa, with the resurgence of those presumably the most acid sensitive.
The author grants permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to reproduce, loan or distribute copies of my thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats on a non-profit basis. The author retains the copyright of the thesis.