Calcium Enhancement in Downeast Salmon Rivers 04-05

Ken Johnson

The agencies responsible for recovery of Atlantic Salmon are considering a project that would mitigate the low calcium concentrations in one or more downeast salmon rivers in Maine . Low calcium may be a factor for the survival of young salmon. As part of this effort, the Mitchell Center at the University of Maine has conducted water chemistry analysis on three rivers in Downeast Maine during 2003-04. The GMC will continue the CEDAR (Calcium Enhancement on Downeast Area Rivers) project for 2005 with minor changes that reflect refinements in project goals.

Specifically the Mitchell Center will:

• Determine whether the Pleasant River ISCO needs to be deployed on the Dennys River at Robinsons Camps or if a datasonde would be sufficient.
• Curtail collection of all samples on the Pleasant River and on the Cathance - Flume on Dodge Rd. Continue grab and ISCO sampling on the Cathance - Lower Site.
• Continue sampling all three sites on the Dennys River , grab samples at Robinson's Camps, Lower Site, and the Weir. Continue ISCO sampling at Lower Site.
• Augment the analyte list to include pH, alkalinity, conductance, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, NO 3 , SO 4 , DOC, and Al. Long-term key analytes include field (closed cell) and lab (air equilibrated) pH, alkalinity (as ANC), calcium (a mitigator of toxicity), dissolved organic carbon (a surrogate for natural acidity), sulfate and nitrate (indicators of acid rain) and both total dissolved aluminum and total ionic aluminum (the likely toxic species in the water).
• Set 2 pH levels with Dennys River water and titrate to target pH. Report required base as mg of CaCO3.