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<br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 5 <br /> <br />Wafer Qual!f,! <br /> <br />5.1 OVERVIEW OF WATER <br />QUALITY ISSUES AND <br />OBJECTIVES <br /> <br />Several water quality issues and concerns <br />were identified and discussed during the <br />planning process: <br /> <br />Water Quality Issues <br /> <br />· Water Quality Monitoring and Funding <br />Not Coordinated <br />· Public Information and Education <br />Lacking <br />· Runoff Associated with Land Use/Water <br />Quality Impacts Increasing <br />· Drinking Water Quality Protection Needs <br />to be Maintained <br />· Water Quality Linkage to Water Quantity <br />Critical <br />· Water Augmentation Plans and Instream <br />Flow Needs Conflict <br /> <br />In response to the identified issues and con- <br />cerns, and in support of the goals for the <br />Plan, the following objectives and recom- <br />mended implementation actions were <br />developed: <br /> <br />Water Quality Objectives <br /> <br />1. Coordinate Water Quality Programs <br /> <br />2. Create Stronger Linkage Between Water <br />Quality and Water Quantity Planning <br /> <br />3. Minimize Water Quality Impacts from <br />Runoff Associated with Various Land <br />Uses <br /> <br />5.2 BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Based on citizen comments through public <br />meetings, written material, and surveys, the <br />public perceives many threats to the river. <br />Generally speaking, water quality in the Eagle <br />River and its tributaries meet or exceed the <br />state water quality standards for agricultural <br />and domestic uses, the protection of aquatic <br />life and recreation uses. However, water <br />quality in certain segments of the Eagle River <br />is negatively impacted by natural causes as <br />well as human activities including: agricultur- <br />al practices, construction activities, haz- <br />ardous materials spills, mining, road sanding, <br />recreation, urban stormwater and snowmelt <br />runoff, water diversions, and wastewater <br />treatment plant discharge. <br /> <br />Most of the development in the watershed (as <br />in most mountainous areas) occurs along val- <br />ley bottoms in fairly close proximity to water <br />features. As the watershed becomes more <br />developed, specific actions to protect water <br />quality will be necessary. Improving water <br />quality in degraded areas of the watershed <br />will require even more effort. <br /> <br />Examples of Eagle River <br />and nibutary Water <br />Quality Issues <br /> <br />Dissolved Solids, Salt Concentrations, <br />Nutrients <br /> <br />A study sponsored by the Town of Vail found <br />that in Gore Creek, dissolved solids, conduc- <br /> <br />31 <br />