Spatial distribution of acid sensitive and acid-impacted streams in relation to watershed features in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Conclusions: Watershed area and the percentage of a watershed that is covered by forest significantly influence watershed sensitivity to acidic deposition. Based on these landscape pattern indicators, one can identify subregions where acid-sensitive streams are most abundant. Thresholds/Learnings: Synopsis: Hypotheses relating to watershed sensitivity to acidic deposition were tested using a geologic classification scheme and available regional data for the Southern Appalachian Mountains region. Landscape characteristics including lithology, elevation, elevational gradients, landscape position, and forest cover were used in the geologic classification scheme. Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) was used as the stratifying variable for [...]