ACID RUNOFF CAUSED FISH LOSS AS AN EARLY WARNING OF FOREST DECLINE

Sulfate, nitrogen, and hydrogen ion deposition in the: Laurel Hill reg ion of the Appalachian Plateau province in Pennsylvania has been very high. Records indicate that losses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus nl,k iss) first occurred about 1960, although unrecorded losses probably pr eceded that date. Research has also attributed loss of brook trout (Sa lvelinus fontinalis) in this region to chronic and episodic stream aci dification. Relatively recently, mortality of northern red oak has bec ome a problem in parts of the region with mortalities as high as 60 pe rcent of standing trees evident in some areas. Preliminary analysis in dicates that soil acidification may play a significant role in the obs erved mortality. If this is the case, it would appear that fish losses due to watershed acidification in the region were evident about 30 ye ars prior to the current mortality of northern red oak. Therefore, fis h loss caused by acidification may be a prelude to more widespread eco system damage as a consequence of chronic deposition of acidifying ele ments.