Projects Directory

Acidification Mitigation Plan for High Priority Salmon Watersheds: effectiveness of limiting to reduce toxic aluminum levels

Recipient: Dalhousie University (Sterling)
Approved Amount: $18,000
Year Approved: 2019

Ionic aluminum (Ali) is toxic to Salmo salar and is known to be a key cause of population declines. Increases in Ali are caused by acidification. Aluminum levels are currently increasing in NS rivers. The results of the 2014-17 ASCF Dalhousie Ali survey (Sterling et al., 2018, attached) show that all rivers tested have toxic levels of Ali. Without mitigation treatment, current trends indicate Ali levels will worsen, posing increased threats for salmon.

Here we propose to use the 2014-2017 Ali survey information generated from our previous ASCF grant to determine how best to address the problem, with liming. We will use this grant to estimate Ali levels in control and treatment catchments of Dr. Sterling’s current liming initiatives in NS. We will use this information to examine which liming method is best for reducing Ali levels, such as whether whole catchment liming or hydrological source area liming is better.

Contact: Dr. Shannon Sterling, 902-494-7741, Shannon.sterling@dal.ca