Findings from Long-term Studies in Four US Rivers Receiving Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent, 2006 Engineering, Pulping, and Environmental Conference

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NCASI's ongoing long-term receiving waters study (LTRWS) examines the potential impact of pulp and paper mill effluent on water quality; and fish, macroinvertebrate, and periphyton communities in four US rivers. Study rivers represent distinct ecoregions, river types, mill process, and instream effluent concentrations. Data are collected using standard methods, and spatial (upstream-downstream of effluent input) and temporal (seasonal and annual) water quality and community patterns are examined using univariate and multivariate statistical procedures. In this presentation, based upon the initial 7 years of a 10 to 20 year study, in-stream and effluent data, general patterns of water quality and aquatic communities are described and implications for continued research are addressed. The significance of the findings to the North American pulp and paper industry is discussed.