Laserfiche WebLink
<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 />smother aquatic insects which serve as fish <br />food, destroy fish spawning areas, and <br />decrease oxygen concentrations. Increased <br />turbidity also decreases the ability of fish to <br />find prey, further stressing them. Sediment <br />comes from construction sites, paved road <br />sanding and unpaved soil runoff, grazing, <br />agricultural and logging activities, and natu- <br />rally erosive soils. Sediment loads to the <br />streams can be reduced by erosion control <br />practices, maintenance of a healthy riparian <br />area, decreased road sanding through the use <br />of alternative de-icers and increased street <br />sweeping, maintenance of stormwater runoff <br />at historical rates, stream bank stabilization, <br />etc. <br /> <br />Many metals, petroleum products, and pesti- <br />cides are toxic to aquatic life. High metals <br />concentrations in drinking water are also a <br />health risk and water treatment costs esca- <br />late when metals removal is necessary. These <br />pollutants can enter the aquatic environment <br />from urban land uses through stormwater <br />runoff. Metal pollutants in stormwater include <br />zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, <br />and lead. It was estimated in the previously <br />cited Vail study that approximately 1,700 <br />pounds of zinc enter Gore Creek from the Vail <br />area (the non-urban "background" contribu- <br />tion was 12 pounds). These stormwater met- <br />als come mainly from vehicles, but also come <br />from litter and other sources. Mine drainage <br />and natural deposits of highly mineralized <br />soils also contribute to the metals found in <br />the Eagle River. <br /> <br />5.3 WATER QUALITY <br />OBJECTIVES AND <br />RECOMMENDED ACTIONS <br /> <br />5.3.1 OBJECTIVE: Coordinate <br />Water Quality Programs <br /> <br />Recommended Actions <br /> <br />1. INVENTORY AND COORDINATE <br />WATER QUALITY MONITORING <br />EFFORTS <br /> <br />Coordinate individual agencies' water <br />quality monitoring to identify purposes <br />and long term goals, areas for potential <br />cooperation between agencies, and <br />other monitoring efforts. Organization is <br />needed to assess existing water quality <br />and trends throughout the watershed. <br />A mechanism needs to be established in <br />Eagle County for continued watershed <br />quality planning and management. All <br />state regulatory changes pending or con- <br />templated could be monitored through <br />this program. <br /> <br />2. APPLY FOR WATER QUALITY <br />PROGRAM FUNDING <br /> <br />Funding for water quality monitoring <br />and water quality improvement projects <br />are available (e.g. EPA 318 funds), but <br />limited, and coordinated efforts and <br />planning will make for more effective <br />utilization of existing funds. <br /> <br />3. DETERMINE LOCAL WATER <br />QUALITY PLAN NEEDS AND <br />DRAFT A MODEL PLAN <br /> <br />Some communities currently have <br />municipal stormwater management <br />plans (Avon, Vail). Other communities <br />should be evaluated to determine the <br />necessity of producing similar or possi- <br /> <br />~-. <br />) <br />( < <br />.~ ~ <br /> <br />33 <br />