Nitrogen saturation and retention in forested watersheds of the Catskill Mountains, New York.

Abstract

In the Catskill Mountains 39 streams were measured for comparison of nitrogen concentrations. The study’s results indicate there is high variability in stream water nitrogen concentrations as well as in rates of nitrogen deposition, saturation, and retention between the different watersheds. This variability cannot be attributed to variations in atmospheric deposition, topography or groundwater influx; it is suggested this variability may be explained by differences in species composition and forest history.