While hiking along the trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you may have noticed that the clear waters in the streams appear to be immaculate! The water quality affects many aquatic animals throughout the Smokies, including salamanders and frogs. It also affects non-aquatic species, such as birds who find their source of food in park streams. If you have been wondering if this crystal clear water is truly pristine, check out these 4 interesting facts to know about the Smoky Mountains water quality:
1. Affected by Air Quality
The water quality in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is directly impacted by the park’s air quality. Despite the remote location of the Smokies, pollutants from industrial sites and power plants can still be found in the park’s air. These pollutants are deposited on surfaces within the park, such as leaves and soil, and then washed into park streams during periods of rain. When acid rain falls, which is rainfall that has been mixed with chemicals and gases to make it more acidic than normal, it can reach elements found in the soil. This causes the streams in the Smokies to become more acidic.
2. Acidity Level in Streams
Another one of the interesting facts to know about the Smoky Mountains water quality is in regards to the acidity level in streams. The acidity of water is measured using the pH system, where lower numbers indicate that the water is more acidic. When there are lower pH levels, metals can drain out of the soil and make streams more toxic to the animals that depend upon this water. Unfortunately, all the streams in the national park are more acidic than they were 20 years ago and it will take more than 30 years for the water quality to improve! This is because the park’s soil holds chemicals and gases from years of acid deposition, so they will continue to release these stored elements into the surrounding rivers and streams for many years to come.
3. Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen in Streams
The temperature of water has a huge impact on the livelihood of aquatic animal, insect, and plant species, as each species has a specific water temperature range in which they can survive. Temperature also affects the amount of dissolved oxygen held in a stream, which also needs to be enough for a species to survive. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cool water does, but fortunately the park streams are currently cold and fast-moving with lots of dissolved oxygen!
4. National Park Service Initiative on Water Quality
The National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a water quality program with support from the Clean Water Action Plan in 1998. The Clean Water Action Plan was a federal plan aimed to restore and protect America's water resources by focusing on protecting public health, reducing polluted runoff, increasing wetlands, and restoring waterways. The goal of the partnership is to develop information on park water quality to enable the National Park Service to address its most critical water quality management responsibilities.
The next time you are exploring the national park and come across a stream or waterfall, impress your friends with your new knowledge of the Smoky Mountains water quality! Speaking of waterfalls, don’t miss your chance to see 5 of the best waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains!
