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Appendix A: Nutrient Problem Statement <br />Big Thompson Watershed Forum <br />Water Quality Management Plan <br />DRAFT <br />Nutrient Problem Statement <br />Problem Statement <br />Elevated nutrient levels in some water bodies in the Big Thompson Watershed are posing a <br />threat to recreational use, local economies, and the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Should <br />nutrient levels increase, these problems are expected to become more severe and costly. <br />Protective management strategies are needed now to control nutrient levels and minimize <br />future water quality problems. <br />Background <br />Nutrients are chemical elements and compounds that occur naturally in the environment. When it <br />comes to water quality, phosphorus and nitrogen are the nutrients of primary interest. Plants and <br />animals require these nutrients to survive and grow, and they are partly responsible for the high <br />quality fishery currently found in the Big Thompson River. <br />However, these same nutrients, when found at high levels, can cause problems for both humans <br />and desirable aquatic life. One of the most common results is eutrophication of water bodies. <br />Eutrophication is characterized by an abundance of attached algae, the presence of surface algal <br />blooms and reduced water clarity. Excessive algae growth can also lead to low dissolved oxygen, <br />a condition in water bodies that is partly caused by the decomposition of organic matter. <br />Nutrients come from a variety of sources and can be introduced to water bodies both directly <br />and indirectly. Examples of Front Range nutrient sources include industry and automotive <br />emissions, large animal feedlots, treated waste water, soil erosion, faulty septic systems, and <br />fertilizer runoff from farm fields and residential lawns. <br />Impacts <br />High nutrient levels in the Big Thompson Watershed are causing negative impacts to the major <br />uses of water in Northern Colorado. To varying degrees, drinking water, agriculture, recreation, <br />desirable aquatic life and the aesthetic qualities of waterbodies have been affected. <br />The Cities of Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Berthoud and others have all experienced <br />elevated algae counts in their Big Thompson Watershed supplies and have incurred increased <br />costs to mitigate the resulting problems. Although the final drinking water is still within health <br />standards, unacceptable taste and odors were not completely eliminated and each city had to <br />spend additional time and resources assuring its customers that their product was safe. <br />-15- <br />