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Effects of Backpacker Use, Pack Stock Trail Use, and Pack Stock Grazing on Water-Quality Indicators, Including Nutrients, E. coli, Hormones, and Pharmaceuticals, in Yosemite National Park, USA

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Abstract

We investigated how visitor-use affects water quality in wilderness in Yosemite National Park. During the summers of 2012–2014, we collected and analyzed surface-water samples for water-quality indicators, including fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon), suspended sediment concentration, pharmaceuticals, and hormones. Samples were collected upstream and downstream from different types of visitor use at weekly to biweekly intervals and during summer storms. We conducted a park-wide synoptic sampling campaign during summer 2014, and sampled upstream and downstream from meadows to evaluate the mitigating effect of meadows on water quality. At pack stock stream crossings, Escherichia coli concentrations were greater downstream from crossings than upstream (median downstream increase in Escherichia coli of three colony forming units 100 mL−1), with the greatest increases occurring during storms (median downstream increase in Escherichia coli of 32 CFU 100 mL−1). At backpacker use sites, hormones, and pharmaceuticals (e.g., insect repellent) were detected at downstream sites, and Escherichia coli concentrations were greater at downstream sites (median downstream increase in Escherichia coli of 1 CFU 100 mL−1). Differences in water quality downstream vs. upstream from meadows grazed by pack stock were not detectable for most water-quality indicators, however, Escherichia coli concentrations decreased downstream, suggesting entrapment and die-off of fecal indicator bacteria in meadows. Our results indicate that under current-use levels pack stock trail use and backpacker use are associated with detectable, but relatively minor, effects on water quality, which are most pronounced during storms.

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Acknowledgements

Project funding was provided by the US Geological Survey/National Park Service Water Quality Partnership Program and the City of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The Division of Hydrologic Sciences at the Desert Research Institute provided graduate student support. Constructive suggestions were provided by Adrian Harpold, Paul Hurtado, Alisa Mast, and two anonymous reviewers.The authors would like to thank the field technicians and wilderness rangers that contributed to this study: Dannique Aalbu, Nathan Ernster, Brina Moscny, Laura Walkup, Reeve Colflesh and Martijn Ouborg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Park Service, 5083 Foresta Road, El Portal, CA, USA

    Harrison Forrester & James Roche

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, MS 415, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO, USA

    David Clow & William Battaglin

  3. Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, USA

    Alan Heyvaert

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  1. Harrison Forrester
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  2. David Clow
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  3. James Roche
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Correspondence to Harrison Forrester.

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Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. David Clow and William Battaglin did not materially contribute to the model application described in this publication.

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Forrester, H., Clow, D., Roche, J. et al. Effects of Backpacker Use, Pack Stock Trail Use, and Pack Stock Grazing on Water-Quality Indicators, Including Nutrients, E. coli, Hormones, and Pharmaceuticals, in Yosemite National Park, USA. Environmental Management 60, 526–543 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0899-z

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