Friends of the Inyo Water Quality Report: Upper San Joaquin Watershed Assessment. Interim Report 2008.

Chamberlin, Laura

Much of the Upper San Joquain is undeveloped US Forest Service land and is designated wilderness. It is assumed that these vast expanses of open space have allowed for the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and high quality water. However, there is very little scientific research to show that this is true. There are many land uses that could be threatening these ecosystems. Land uses in this region are primarily diverse recreation uses such as angling, hiking, camping and packing. These uses create impacts that are sources for non-point source pollutants, such as sediment, human waste, and pack animal waste. Impacts on terrestrial and aquatic resources could include loss of native vegetation, surface disturbance, and compaction from trails and dispersed campsites. There is also one semi-developed, highly visited area in the Upper San Joaquin watershed project area, the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile area west of Mammoth Lakes. In addition to the typical low impact recreation uses, this area also has developed campgrounds, roads, high volume human traffic, and pack outfitters. Water quality can be used as an indicator of the health of a watershed and a measurement of the impacts that land uses may have on the water. The downstream impacts from the more developed areas of the watershed have a greater impact on the water and ecosystem. However, it is still important to consider all aspects of a watershed in order to get a clear picture of the system.