Why lime Adirondack forests and streams?

Clean Air Act Amendments have reduced acid deposition across the northeastern US, but recovery of surface waters has lagged because of calcium depletion in Adirondack forest soils. Current estimates suggest that 65% of headwater streams are episodically or chronically acidified.   To date, calcium availability in soil has not increased so remediation may be the only way to achieve desired levels of recovery at some high value sites within a reasonable length of time.  Our research is investigating different remediation strategies to determine best practices to protect species, the first being one of 7 heritage brook trout strains in New York.