Mountain lakes may seem pristine, but they are subjected to multiple types of anthropogenic (i.e., man-made) stressors. Since the industrial revolution, toxins from industrial activities have traveled through the atmosphere and been deposited onto the mountain landscape, where lakes act as collection basins. These lakes were historically fishless, but starting at the turn of the 20th century, fish stocking became a regular practice in an effort to attract visitors and garner support for land conservation. Many mountain lakes now have reproducing fish populations, and studies show that these new residents lead to declines in lake invertebrates and amphibians. Mountain lake fish also accumulate toxins like mercury that are deposited from the atmosphere. These stressors have created a challenge for park managers, who want to protect the health of mountain lake ecosystems, the health of visitors, and the cultural value of fishing.
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