Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park air quality initiative related to nitrogen deposition

For over 20 years the National Park Service has actively monitored air quality and ecosystem health in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Data from these monitoring efforts document ecosystem changes from nitrogen deposition on the east side of the Continental Divide including changes in the type and abundance of aquatic plant species, elevated levels of nitrate in surface waters, elevated levels of nitrogen in spruce tree needles, long-term accumulation of nitrogen in forest soils and a shift in alpine tundra plant communities favoring sedges and grasses over wildflower flora (RMNP Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan, August 16, 2007). Because two-thirds of the park is near or above tree line, the park's ecosystems are particularly susceptible to changes due to atmospheric deposition of pollution.

Identifying every source of nitrogen that contributes to deposition in the park is a daunting task, but is critical in order to fairly and equitably develop a plan to reduce nitrogen levels in the park.

As a result, beginning in October 2006 various stakeholder groups came together to analyze air quality data related to the park and to provide recommendations on how to best address nitrogen deposition concerns from sources of oxides of nitrogen and ammonia in Colorado. The presentation will highlight some of the actions taken, or being planned, by the stakeholder groups to address atmospheric deposition of nitrogen in the park.

Even though it is too early to make any conclusions as to the success of the proactive approach (i.e., voluntary measures versus regulatory controls) or to the extent that current state air quality plans or best management practices are having on nitrogen deposition in the park, the presentation is intended to share some of the challenges and achievements, to date, of this particular stakeholder-driven approach.