Estimated Impacts of SO2 Emissions from Sudbury Smelters on Ontario's Sportfish Populations

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Abstract
Impacts of acidification on the major sportfish species in Ontario (lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), brook trout (S. fontinalis), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum)) were estimated from the results of extensive water quality surveys conducted during the period 1978–85. Local impacts, within the 17 000 km2 area most affected by emissions from Sudbury smelters, were also estimated and compared with the provincial values. The estimated numbers of acidic lakes in Ontario in which viable sportfish populations have disappeared were 119 lake trout lakes (5.1% of known lake trout lakes), 34 brook trout lakes (1.6%), 52 smallmouth bass lakes (2.2%), and 14 walleye lakes (0.3%). Most of these affected lakes were in the Sudbury zone, where fish populations, particularly those of lake trout, began declining more than 30 yr ago. The estimated numbers of critically acidic lakes in the Sudbury zone were 94 lake trout lakes, 14 brook trout lakes, 18 smallmouth bass lakes, and 7 walleye lakes. More recent sampling of a subset of Sudbury lakes indicated that substantial water quality improvements have occurred as a result of emission reductions from Sudbury smelters.

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