Analysis of Trends in Episodic Acidification of Streams in Western Maryland

In this study we report on changes in the magnitude and mechanisms of episodic acidification of a small acid-sensitive stream in western Maryland (U.S.) during the 1990s, a period in which wet sulfate deposition declined by 10−25% due to implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990. We observed a relatively minor trend in the magnitude of episodic acidification over this period, as measured by transient changes in acid neutralizing capacity (ΔANC) and minimum values of ANC (ANCmin) during 22 events sampled prior to and following CAAA implementation. Any relationship to changes in atmospheric deposition appears to be confounded by large hydroclimatological variability between the two sampling periods. Nonetheless, results obtained prior to implementation of the CAAA indicated that the mechanism of episodic acidification was mostly attributable to flushing of accumulated sulfate from the watershed, whereas results obtained post-CAAA indicated domination by base cation dilution. This shift in the mechanism of episodic acidification is qualitatively consistent with hydrochemical theory, as well as with empirical results from surface waters in other regions where dramatic declines in sulfate deposition have taken place.