Greta Jimenez
The Adirondack region is facing a number of environmental challenges that threaten its delicate ecosystems and the health of its residents. The area is particularly vulnerable to acid rain, which has been shown to have long-lasting effects on water quality and wildlife, as well as air pollution from wildfires and road salt use in the winter months. In addition, invasive species, sewage and wastewater inputs, and harmful algal blooms pose significant risks to the region's aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies. With thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, the Adirondack Park is a vital source of drinking water and a thriving tourism destination, making the preservation of its water quality critical.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution | Smog, soot, acid rain, nitrogen-based pollution, ground-level ozone, black carbon, smoke, haze |
| Water pollution | High levels of copper and lead, aluminium, mercury, sewage, wastewater, fertilizer use, road salt, nitrogen |
| Soil pollution | Nitrogen |
| Impact | Human health, wildlife, aquatic life, forests, buildings, bridges, cultural resources, visibility, property values |
| Mitigation | Clean Air Act, Acid Rain Control Program, Clean Water Infrastructure in the Adirondack Park: Crisis or Opportunity, Adirondack Long Term Monitoring Program |
| Other threats | Invasive species, forest pests and diseases, wildfires |
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What You'll Learn
Acid rain
The Adirondack region has been severely affected by acid rain. The region's high levels of precipitation, impermeable bedrock, and relatively high elevations make it particularly vulnerable to acid rain. The acid rain releases aluminium from the soil, which destroys adult fish gills, and makes fish egg membranes too tough for hatchlings to break. The acid rain also weakens and kills insects, snails, and other calcium-shelled invertebrates.
The story of acid rain in the Adirondacks begins in the mid-19th century, when European scientists first suspected that the combustion of coal produced smoke containing sulfur, leading to sulfuric acid in the atmosphere. By the 1950s, it was clear that acid rain was also harming ponds, lakes, and streams far from smokestacks. In the 1970s, scientists became alarmed as small lakes in the Adirondack Park became so abnormally acidic that fish could no longer live in them. By 1976, half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish. Many of the lakes in the region were once home to brook trout, but acid rain has caused them to lose their trout populations.
The Adirondack Park has suffered the worst acid rain damage in the nation. The surrounding soils and underlying bedrock of the majority of lakes within the park are slow to weather and have little capacity to neutralize or buffer acidic water. The steep slopes, heavy precipitation, and proximity to the coal-fired smokestacks of the Midwest all contribute to the region's vulnerability to acid rain.
In 1990, the Clean Air Act was amended, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was instructed to create the nation's first acid rain control program. The new program was expected to end acidity in Adirondack lakes and streams. However, it was recognized that the program would be inadequate to protect the Adirondack Park and other sensitive ecosystems. As a result, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Adirondack Council sued the EPA over the new program.
While there have been some emissions cuts and relief from acid rain in the Adirondack Park, additional cuts are still needed for the region to recover from decades of damage.
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Air pollution
The Adirondack region has long been associated with acid rain, a form of air pollution that has impacted the area's lakes, ponds, and streams. The issue of acid rain in the Adirondacks has been documented since the 1950s, with scientific research and policy efforts aiming to address the problem. The Clean Air Act of 1970 was a significant legislative initiative that began to regulate sulfur emissions, but it did not include nitrogen, which has contributed to the acid rain issue.
In 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act and directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the country's first acid rain control program. However, this program was criticised as inadequate for protecting sensitive ecosystems like the Adirondack Park. The Obama-era Cross-State Air Pollution Rule brought additional emissions cuts and provided some relief from acid rain, but more needs to be done to restore the park's ecosystems fully.
The Adirondack region's proximity to industrial operations and power plants in the Midwest has made it particularly vulnerable to air pollution. Nitrogen-based pollution, for example, has impacted the Chesapeake Bay and Long Island Sound, leading to an overabundance of algae and hypoxia. Additionally, the combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in the release of sulfuric and nitric acids, which contribute to acid rain and travel long distances, affecting areas far from their sources.
Wildfires in Quebec have also recently impacted the air quality in the Adirondacks. In June 2023, smoke from these wildfires led to hazy skies and unhealthy air quality alerts in the region. The smoke contained elevated levels of black carbon, a byproduct of wood burning, which can have negative effects on human health, particularly for those with respiratory and heart conditions.
Overall, air pollution in the Adirondack region has had significant ecological and environmental impacts. Efforts to mitigate pollution and restore the area's natural balance are ongoing, highlighting the need for continued scientific research, policy innovation, and collaboration between government, industry, and environmental organisations.
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Water quality
One of the primary threats to water quality in the Adirondacks is sewage and wastewater inputs. Aging septic systems and inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure contribute to the degradation of water resources. This issue is particularly challenging for small communities with limited financial resources to upgrade their systems. Climate change-induced storm events, such as heavy rainfall, further exacerbate the problem by increasing wastewater inputs into the waterways.
Acid rain, caused by air pollution, is another significant concern for the Adirondacks. The damage from acid rain can take a long time to manifest and recover from. It has been linked to the decline of native life and the corrosion of water sources, impacting both human health and ecological integrity. Additionally, mercury pollution has been identified as a pollutant with long-lasting effects on the health of Adirondack waters and the people and wildlife that depend on them.
Road salt pollution is also a pressing issue in the Adirondacks, especially during the long winter months. Thousands of tons of road salt are spread on roads each year, and the runoff containing chloride and sodium washes directly into streams, lakes, and soils. This pollution poses serious risks to the health of aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies.
The Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP), established in 1998, plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting water quality. This volunteer-driven program, in partnership with Protect the Adirondacks and the Paul Smith's College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), collects water samples for analysis and works with stakeholders to address any concerning trends.
Overall, the protection of water quality in the Adirondacks is a complex and urgent task. It requires addressing a range of pollution sources, including sewage, wastewater, acid rain, mercury, and road salt. By strengthening regulations, improving infrastructure, and promoting conservation, efforts are being made to preserve the pristine waters of the Adirondacks and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
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Invasive species
The Adirondack region is home to numerous trails, waterways, and wilderness areas. However, it is facing a threat from invasive species, which are plants, insects, fish, or animals that are non-native to the region and cause harm to the local ecosystem. These invasive species can have detrimental effects on the native flora and fauna, the economy, and human health.
One of the most common ways for aquatic invasive species to spread is through connected waterways, often unintentionally transported by recreational boats, fishing gear, and equipment. Once introduced, they quickly take root in new environments, as they typically do not have natural predators, and human management efforts to eradicate them are challenging. Some of the most common aquatic invasive species in the Adirondacks include Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut, spiny water flea, Asian clams, fishhook water flea, and zebra mussels. These species form thick mats that restrict native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, heighten toxin levels, and impede boat traffic, negatively impacting fishing opportunities and the economies of communities that rely on tourism and outdoor recreation.
In addition to aquatic invasive species, terrestrial plants and insects are also causing harm to the Adirondacks. The purple loosestrife, an invasive non-native species, has become common in wetlands and low-lying areas. With its robust root system and high reproductive capacity, it can dominate wetlands and outcompete native species. Gypsy moths, another invasive species, cause widespread defoliation by feeding on various trees, including oak, maple, and birch. The Emerald Ash Borer, a small beetle, is also highly destructive to North American Ash trees and can be transported in firewood.
The impact of invasive species is not just ecological but also economic. The spread of invasive weeds and insects can lead to decreased property values and tax revenues for local governments. For example, Eurasian watermilfoil can make a lake inaccessible, reducing its appeal to those who live, boat, swim, and fish in lakes. Similarly, the timber industry, which employs thousands of people, is threatened by invasive insects like the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian longhorned beetle.
Efforts are being made to control and manage invasive species in the Adirondacks. Local governments, lake associations, and partnerships with other agencies are working together to protect waterbodies and educate the public. The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) has also been actively inspecting boats and conducting water samples to detect and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Community groups, such as the Adirondack Garden Club and Champlain Area Trails, are taking action by removing invasive plants and restoring native species. However, the complex nature of invasive species and their spread, exacerbated by global trade networks and climate change, present ongoing challenges in the fight against living pollution in the Adirondacks.
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Forest fires
The Adirondack region has two main fire seasons: spring and fall. The spring fire season usually lasts from when the snow melts until green leaves start to appear, typically from April to late May. During this time, dead leaves and vegetation from the previous autumn dry out, creating fuel for fires. Once foliage appears, the risk of fire decreases due to increased moisture at ground level. The fall fire season may see similar conditions, with dry leaves on the ground that have yet to be covered by snow.
The Adirondacks have a long history of forest fires. From 1888 to 1914, over a million acres of timber were lost to fires, with particularly devastating years in 1903 and 1908. The fires of 1903 were caused by a combination of drought conditions and insufficiently regulated logging and railroad companies, whose use of coal and wood-burning locomotives sent off sparks that ignited the dry landscape. The fires of 1908 convinced the public that human activity was the primary cause of forest fires and could therefore be prevented. In response to these fires, New York passed several laws to prevent and detect forest fires, including banning wood and coal-fed locomotives in the Adirondacks and requiring loggers to cut tree tops into small pieces that would rot rather than become dry tinder.
While the fire-fighting capacity in the Adirondacks was exemplary from the 1920s through the 1960s, the region continues to experience forest fires. In 2022, over 200 forest fires occurred in New York State, with 125 of them in the Adirondack regions. More recently, in June 2023, smoke from wildfires in Quebec caused unhealthy air quality in the Adirondacks, leading to advisories for people with respiratory illnesses or heart conditions.
The impact of climate change on the region's fire risk is a growing concern. While the Adirondacks are largely composed of hardwood forests, which are less prone to burning than boreal forests, warming temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns could increase the risk of wildfires. As climate change leads to more unpredictable weather, scientists warn that wildfires and air pollution from murky skies could become more severe in the Northeast and the Adirondacks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Adirondack is being polluted by a number of factors, including acid rain, road salt, invasive species, and nitrogen-based pollution.
Acid rain is caused by air pollution and has been falling in some areas of the US for nearly a century. It damages aquatic life, forests, and human-made structures. The Adirondack region, with its thousands of lakes, streams, and rivers, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of acid rain.
The Adirondack region is affected by air pollution from other states, as well as from Canada. Pollution from other states contributes to smog and haze in the area. In 2023, smoke from wildfires in Quebec caused unhealthy air quality in the Adirondack, with an Air Quality Index of 167.
In the last 40 years, around 7 million tons of road salt have been applied to roads within the Adirondack Park. This has had a negative impact on lakes, ponds, streams, drinking water wells, and ecosystems.
The Adirondack Council is working to preserve the Park's water quality and address various threats, including invasive species and acid rain. The Clean Water Infrastructure in the Adirondack Park report outlines challenges and opportunities for improving water infrastructure in the region. Additionally, the Adirondack Mountain Club has launched an outdoor gear consignment program to promote sustainable recreation in the area.
