M3 AM Ecological Risk Assessment (Part 1)
Monday, 14 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 3

(PFI-1117-750458) Relative Risk Assessment of the Androscoggin River Watershed in Maine and New Hampshire.

Pfingst, Amanda¹, Chen, Valerie¹, Landis, Wayne¹, ¹ Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA

ABSTRACT- A regional risk assessment is being conducted for the Androscoggin River Watershed in Maine and New Hampshire, using the Relative Risk Model of Landis and Weigers. This large watershed supports industry, agriculture, forestry, recreation, residential communities and much wildlife, including many threatened/endangered species. Assessment endpoints were determined after meeting with stakeholders. The stakeholders represent large and small businesses, industry, governments, non-profits and citizens. Efforts were made to choose measurable entities that represent the values that such parties hold in the watershed. Sources of stress to endpoints include, but are not limited to, three pulp and paper mills, 30 dams, logging, agricultural runoff, development/urbanization, and atmospheric mercury deposition from industry in the Midwest. The watershed was divided into sub-regions to better characterize risk. The conceptual model, results, and uncertainty analysis for sub-regions 1-6 are presented in this poster. These sub-regions cover the Androscoggin River from its headwaters in Errol, NH to the Gulf Island dam near Lewiston, ME. Continuing research on the remaining sub-regions, from Lewiston to the end of the river in Merrymeeting Bay, is also presented. This research includes characterization of the lower watershed, additions to the conceptual model and risk results, and uncertainty reduction.

Key words: risk assessment, watershed, uncertainty, relative risk model