Acid deposition (AD) from air pollution is a chronic stress on forest ecosystems in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the U. S. The health of some high elevation forest streams has declined and forest soils have become less fertile and more

1
Acid Deposition Effects on Forest Composition and
Productivity in the Monongahela National Forest
Introduction Acid deposition (AD) from air
pollution is a chronic stress on forest
ecosystems in the northeast and mid-Atlantic
regions of the U. S. The health of some high
elevation forest streams has declined and forest
soils have become less fertile and more acidic.
However, it is unclear if and how the rest of the
forest ecosystem has been affected, and if
management plans of National Forests in this
region need to accommodate this potential threat
to forest health. Data from Forest Inventory and
Analysis (FIA) plots are being used to determine
if any measurable forest health declines
attributable to AD are occurring on the
Monongahela National Forest.

• Implications
• The Monongahela National Forest, in eastern West
  Virginia, lies within 300 kilometers of seven of
  the highest 10 SO2 emitting coal-fired power
  plants which makes it subject to high levels of
  AD (Figure 2). National Forests are mandated to
  manage for multiple uses such as wildlife
  protection, water and air quality, and timber
  production. Because AD may threaten many of
  these resources it is critical to understand how
  this source of pollution affects forest ecosystem
  services. The results of this project will be
  used to develop monitoring and management
  protocols for the forest.
• Acknowledgements
• The USDA Forest Service Timber and Watershed Lab
  and the Monongahela National Forest have provided
  funding for this project. Many thanks to a
  number of Forest Service employees who helped
  develop the MOU for FIA data access. We also
  thank the Forest Service employees and Virginia
  Tech students who helped with field sampling. We
  are grateful to our partners at NRCS and the
  Forest Service FHM administrative office
• Works Cited
• National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NRSP-3),
  2006.

P.E. Elias1, J.A. Burger1, M.B. Adams2, and S.
Connolloy3 1Virginia Tech Department of Forestry,
Blacksburg, VA 2USDA Forest Service Timber and
Watershed Lab, Parsons, WV, 3USDA Forest Service
Monongahela National Forest, Elkins, WV

• Methods
• Calculate growth on Forest Inventory and Analysis
  (FIA) Plots on the Monongahela National Forest
  from 1987-2005 (Figure 1)
• Map growth over the hypothesized factors that
  influence site sensitivity to acid deposition
• Correlate this mapping exercise with field-based
  soils data taken adjacent to 30 FIA plots
• Soils at the 30 plots will be sampled using the
  Forest Health Monitoring protocol, and one
  specifically tailored for measuring AD effects on
  soils. The data from both sampling approaches
  will be correlated with changes in productivity
  and composition.
• At 10 sites sample foliage from indicator species
• Correlate foliar chemistry with changes in
  productivity and composition to test its ability
  to monitor AD effects

• Hypothesis
• Forest sensitivity to AD can be estimated using
  site factors that influence soil buffering and
  forest productivity.
• A sensitivity gradient can be tested using Basal
  Area growth as an indicator of productivity on
  FIA sites.
• Site sensitivity will be a factor of
• Parent material
• Soil depth
• Soil mineralogy
• Aspect
• Elevation
• Landform
• Soil and foliage sampling can provide
  ground-based evaluations of site sensitivity to
  AD.
• Current FIA protocols may need to be adjusted to
  adequately monitor AD effects.

Figure 2 pH of precipitation in the
Southeastern United States (NADP, 2006)
Figure 1 FIA Locations across the Monongahela
National Forest
Example of forest soil profile.
The Monongahela National Forest