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1772 '. -....~.....p..~...:~:~:.~ ~1. S t?;'~:~J,si;~!.~-j .....L.,('.....O~..~..~.""'~'.._~....~'"-'... fJ.'l:I_...... ..,.,~.,. ..,.-=.;' '1 ,..'~.- .~a.-..s- ~ - .;I1"~~\~~ ~U.t:.?l.~.. . . ." - - b' d' 0 R<>VISIOn SU \S-,O-; OR RE\.~i!o..SE DO i>lOT QU l~\ by Director, The Arkansas River drains approximately 25,400 mi2 ~~l!dQr~~~l~\i.p.t1C~f<IIla.,efore reach- U.S. -.;60...=:;1- ing the Colorado-Kansas border (fig. 1). Streamflow in the Arkansas River Basin is derived primarily from snow- INTRODUCTION melt in the mountains that border the upper region of the basin and, to a lesser extent, from summer thunderstorms which occur primarily on the eastern plains. Annually, millions of gallons of water are supplied by the river for use by various entities within and outside the basin..Water uses in the Arkansas River Basin include: agricultural. com- mercial, domestic, industrial,livestock, mining, and power. Although the primary water use in the basin is agricul- IUraI, many municipalities withii1 and outside the Arkansas River Basin have become increasingly dependent on the river to supply much needed water for their continued growth. As such, the quality of the water in the Arkansas River Basin has become an important consideration to a multitude of water users in Colorado. In recent years, water-quality issues in the Arkansas River Basin have received increased attention. In 1990, the U. S. Geological Survey began a Study in cooperation with several local, state, and federal entities to assess .' existing water-quality conditions in the Arkansas River Basin. The Study was done in cooperation with the city of Colorado Springs, DepartDlent of Utilities; Pueblo Board of Water Works; Southeastern Colorado Water Conser- vancy District; Pueblo County, Department ofPlancing and Development; City of Aurora, Department of Utilities; SI. Charles Mesa Water District; Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments; Upper Arkansas Water Conser- . vancy District; City of Pueblo, Department of Utilities; Pueblo West Metropolitan District; Fremont Sanitation District; Cities of Rocky Ford, Las Animas and Lamar; and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Purpose and Scope This repon describes the spatial and temporal variations in water-quality conditions that existed in the Arkansas River Basin between' April 1990 and March 1993. The primary focus ofmis repon is on the water-quality of the Arkansas River, however, tributary data, when appropriate, were utilized to assess impacts on the main stem .. of the river. In addition, variations in water quality that are influenced by streamflow, and regional effects on water 2