Achieve 3000 “Cars and Power Plants Hurting Park” Rocky Mountain National Park

National Park Service Provided Information: Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park marvel at the deep blue skies, cotton clouds and fresh air and park managers strive to maintain high standards of air quality. However, air quality is affected by air pollution coming from a variety of human made sources.

National Park Service Provided Information: Air pollution in the park reduces visibility, increases ozone levels and causes excess nitrogen deposition. Reduced visibility is a basic indicator of pollution in the air. Current visibility in the park varies between 30 to 90 miles, however, there are days when visibility is more than 200 miles.

National Park Service Provided Information: The State of Colorado is working to reduce air pollution through strategies including: engine regulations vehicle standards and power plant controls These, in theory, should improve visibility conditions in the park.

National Park Service Provided Information: High ozone levels can have immediate health effects on park visitors. Respiratory conditions such as asthma or emphysema may be affected. Ozone advisories are announced when levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels and are posted at the visitor centers and entrance stations. Ozone is produced by the interaction of nitrous oxides, sunlight and heat (the park is prone to high ozone levels on warm, summer afternoons and evenings). Car exhaust from local communities is a main source of nitrous oxides.

National Park Service Provided Information: Although nitrogen is an important part of park ecosystems, excess deposition of atmospheric nitrogen at 15 times the natural rate is impacting natural resources. Excess nitrogen acts as a fertilizer which favors some types of plants and leaves others at a disadvantage. Excess nitrogen leaves ecosystems vulnerable to future acidification.

National Park Service Provided Information: Nitrogen Deposition - Nitrogen is transported by wind combined with moisture in the air, and then deposited in the park by rain or snow. Pollutant concentrations may reach a tipping point where they begin causing unnatural ecosystem changes.

National Park Service Provided Information: Three-quarters of the park is above 9,000 feet where high elevation ecosystems developed under low nutrient conditions. These areas are susceptible to excess nitrogen. Within these ecosystems, alpine tundra, aquatic plants, soils and water quality are most affected. Scientists are also concerned that excess nitrogen may promote non-native plants and reduce forest health. Sources of human made or excess atmospheric nitrogen include power plants, vehicle exhaust, oil and gas production, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, fertilized crops, livestock production, and other municipal and residential activities.

National Park Service Provided Information: The National Park Service, State of Colorado and Environmental Protection Agency collaborated on a Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan (NDRP) to reduce nitrogen deposition to tolerable rates by 2032. Colorado crop and livestock producers are also exploring ways to further reduce agricultural contributions through nitrogen best management practices.

Film on Floods in Rocky Mtn National Park http://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/photosmultimedia/video_science_behind_scenes.htm#CP_JUMP_357906

Film on Rocky Mountain National Park May take some time to load http://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/photosmultimedia/video_science_behind_scenes.htm#CP_JUMP_357906

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