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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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7703893 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1009 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0364152X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Manage Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: New York Ny : Springer Verlag
      Original Publication: New York, Springer-Verlag.
    • Subject Terms:
      Fresh Water*/chemistry ; Fresh Water*/microbiology ; Parks, Recreational* ; Recreation* ; Water Quality*; Escherichia coli/*isolation & purification ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis; California ; Environmental Monitoring ; Seasons ; Water Microbiology/standards ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/standards ; Wilderness
    • 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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    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: E. coli; Hormones; Nutrients; Pharmaceuticals; Water quality; Wilderness
    • Accession Number:
      0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20170610 Date Completed: 20171127 Latest Revision: 20201209
    • Publication Date:
      20221213
    • Accession Number:
      10.1007/s00267-017-0899-z
    • Accession Number:
      28597051