The purpose of this study is to determine how underlying physical factors (such as geology) and forest land management practices interact to influence"watershed integrity" in the Adirondack Uplands of nothern New York State. We will address the central question: Does long-term forest preservation enhance watershed structure and function in Adirondack uplands? The proposed activity will involve a multidisciplinary approach to study patterns in multiple variables in reference catchments (subjected to forest removal durning the past 15 years) in the Adirondack Uplands. Within reference and managed categories catchments will be selected along a gradient of surficial soil conditions from shallow/till soils to deep/outwash soils. Comparison across watersheds will include hydrogeology, surficial geology, biogeochemistry, forest community, and aquatic community response variables. Data analysis will include multivariate statistical methods to extract patterns across the landscape in response variables.
