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<br />The predominant uses of surface-water ~in the Middle Arkansas River Basin arEF ,';; ..; <br /> <br />!Qr.irrigation and recreation. Reservoirs in the basin are among the most popular in <br /> <br />Colorado for boating and fishing. Ground water in the alluvium of the river-valley <br /> <br />alll,lvil:lFAis used for domestic supply by several towns in the basin. The Arkansas <br /> <br />River also provides recharge water to the Ogallala Formation, which provides <br /> <br />domestic supplies at Garden City, Kansas, and other towns downstream from the <br /> <br />study area. <br /> <br />According to iUJ,tI:I& Interior iStudy, selenium was found at elevated concentrations in <br /> <br />water, bottom sediment, and biota of the Arkansas River. Selenium concentrations in <br /> <br />surface water was 1 microgram/liter in Pueblo Reservoir upstream of the project area. <br /> <br />Data indicates that the stretch of the Arkansas River from the Highland Canal <br /> <br />diversion (Nepesta gauge) to the water quality gauge at La Junta, which is affected by <br /> <br />the Highline Breaks area, has a significant change in selenium concentrations. <br /> <br />Samples taken at these a-gauges (Nepesta and La Junta) show that the average total <br /> <br />selenium concentration increases from 8 micrograms/liter to 17 micrograms/liter <br /> <br />between the gages. EPA data shows similar increases. <br /> <br />The mean concentration is close to The Colorado Department of Public Health and <br /> <br />Environment standard and the US Environmental Protection Agency maximum <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br />