Water Quality - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Although water quality is high in Rocky compared to much of the country, threats do exist. Nitrogen deposition is a factor influencing soils and waters in the park. The impacts of nitrogen deposition in lakes and streams grow worse over time as the natural buffering capability of the soil and rock is used up. Eventually, chronic acidification can lead to the loss of many aquatic organisms and entire fish populations. As experience in the northeastern U.S., Canada, and Europe has shown, these changes can be almost impossible to reverse.