WSP11975

• File Number: 8146.100
• Description: Pueblo Dam - Project Description
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Physical Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Pueblo Reservoir Colorado 1985 - 1986
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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78 6C
o AUGUST 1987
24

SITES
5C 48

38 28 18

ui 10
u 24
'" 20
~
DO 30
:J
Vl 40
DO 22
6 50
6:tu6O ............. RESERVOIR
~w 70 BOTTOM
w~
II: ~ 80
:;; 90
0
~ 100
w
'"
:J: 110
f- ;2'
0.
W
" ;3'

14'

OCTOBER 1987

,:~
20
30
40
50

/71

w
u
'"
~
DO
:J
Vl
DO
6
~tu 60
~~ 70
w
a: Z 60
~ - 90
o
~
w
'"
:J:
f-
0.
W
o

100
110

............RESERVOIA
BOTTOM

;2'

130
140
o

23456789
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM
DAM, IN MILES

SITES
78 sC 5C 48
SEPTEMBER 1987

~ '~.

38 28

lB

............ RESERVOIR
BOTTOM

023456789
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM
DAM, IN MILES

10

EXPLANATION
- 12 - LINE OF EQUAL WATER TEMPERATURE-
Number is water lemperature in degrees
Celsius. Contour inter'.'al i~ 2 degree:;

4_ - - - INITIAL ROUTING OF INFLOW

10

Figure 4. Monthly temperature profiles for Pueblo ReseNoir and initial routing of inflow in Pueblo ReseNoir,
December 1986 and March through October 1987..Continued.

remains nearly constant for a substantial amount of
time.

The monthly temperature profiles for December
]986 and March through October 1987 (fig, 4) illus-
trate the typical temporal and spatial stratification and
mixing patterns observed from 1985 through 1989.
The December temperature profile indicates the reser-
voir is fairly well mixed downstream from transect 4
and weakly stratified in the more shallow, upstream
part of the reservoir (fig, 4) in early winter. Interflow
and underflow of the Arkansas River exists in the
upstream part of the reservoir during December. The
March temperature profile indicates the reservoir con-
tinued to cool during the winter and is well mixed
downstream from transect 2 and weakly stratified
upstream from transect 2 (fig, 4), The stratified condi-
tions are confined to the shallow, upstream part of the

reservoir in early spring, because of rapid warming of
the shallow water by solar radiation and interflow of
the cooler Arkansas River. Weak stratification domi-
nates the entire reservoir by mid-April as the reservoir
surface warms because of increased solar radiation and
continued interfiow of the Arkansas River, Strong
stratification becomes established in the reservoir by
mid-May because of reservoir releases from the
hypolimnion, increased solar radiation. and interfiow
of the Arkansas River. The strong stratification persists
throughout June, July, and early August as the reservoir
surface continues to warm and the Arkansas River
enters as increasingly deeper underflow. During this
period, the depth of the thennocline increases as deep,
cold water is released at the dam and warmer, overlying
water replaces it from above, By mid-August. night-
time air temperatures begin to decrease, and strati fica.

14 PhyslclIl, Chemical, and Biological Ch8r8cterlstlcs of Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado, 1985-89