Giardia contamination of surface waters : A survey of three selected backcountry streams in Rocky Mountain National Park
Monzingo DL and Stevens DR. 1986. Giardia contamination of surface waters : A survey of three selected backcountry streams in Rocky Mountain National Park. Water Resources Report No. 86-2. National Park Service, Water Resources Division. Fort Collins, Colorado
Three remote backcountry streams in Rocky Mountain National Park were surveyed for Giardia contamination during the summer of 1985. Stream water pumped through a 1.0 micron filter apparatus was analyzed for Giardia using a zinc sulfate centrifugation technique. Notes were taken as to the type of habitat and wildlife found at the sampling sites. Giardia cysts were not found in any of the water filter samples taken from two of the streams sampled. Both of these streams are in low human-use areas with poor beaver habitat. Giardia cysts were found in two of nine water filter samples taken along the third stream. This stream flows through a low human-use area containing marginal beaver habitat. Beaver were in residence in the vicinity of the sampling sites at which Giardia cysts were detected.