In 2021 researchers convened a workshop to identify SCALE research and monitoring priorities. Researchers from leading academic, not-for-profit, and government organizations synthesized historical data, previous studies, and current trends to identify four overarching research themes for SCALE. This effort provided the scientific foundation for SCALE research and monitoring activities.
1. How have water quality conditions such as water temperature, oxygen, and nutrients changed in Adirondack lakes, and where are impairments most likely?
Oxygen is essential to life on the planet, and all biological processes are temperature-dependent and require nutrients. Increases in surface water temperatures and severe storms are contributing to deep-water dissolved oxygen losses in lakes worldwide. The magnitude of these effects in the Adirondacks is unclear and may be exacerbated by legacy acid rain issues. Substantial oxygen losses threaten many species and reduce water quality, while potentially increasing carbon emissions from lakes. SCALE data will help understand the magnitude of temperature increases, severe storm impacts, dissolved oxygen losses, and nutrient availability in Adirondack lakes. These insights will guide forecasting of future changes in water quality.
2. How sensitive are organisms in Adirondack lakes?
Warming waters can alter the organisms that can survive and thrive in Adirondack lakes. Yet the fate of many species, such as climate-sensitive Adirondack cold-water species (e.g., trout) remain difficult to predict due to complex feedbacks and interactions between organisms and the environment and between different species. Additionally, the spread of invasive species threatens native species and water quality in many lakes. SCALE will provide insights on economically and ecologically important species to identify which lakes are most vulnerable to loss of sensitive species, where are food webs changing most rapidly, and how levels of contaminants such as mercury in fish are changing
3. What is the role of lakes as natural sources or sinks of greenhouse gases and carbon burial?
Lakes are globally important hot-spots of carbon cycling, including both carbon burial and emissions. To create local, state, and national carbon budgets that account for both natural and human (anthropogenic) sources and sinks of carbon it is important to measure lake carbon burial and dissolved gas concentrations. SCALE data will help understand natural greenhouse gas emissions and the potential impacts of environmental change on lake greenhouse gas emissions.
4. How widespread are harmful algal blooms (HABs)?
Harmful algal blooms, which can be toxic to humans and wildlife alike, are increasingly observed in lakes across the country and around the world. Reports of algal blooms in Adirondack lakes are rare, but anecdotal reports of increasing algal growth are not unusual. Adirondack Park regulations protect many lakes from many factors associated with algal blooms, thereby offering an invaluable reference point for assessing the prevalence of algal blooms and toxins in even remote lakes. SCALE will create a much-needed baseline for understanding HABs across New York State and nationally.