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March 2006 RCCD Upper Yampa &'eer Bruin Implementation Plan • 8 <br />of/interest in the watershed (municipal/public, agricultural, industrial, and recreational); and potential <br />subsequent impacts on watershed resources, water quality, and river system health. General <br />• watershed issues are discussed further in the following paragraphs. <br />Most of the streams in the Yampa River Basin are very high quality, supporting desired uses. The <br />emphasis of water quality planning in the basin, therefore, is largely directed toward preserving this <br />existing high quality. There are some areas, however, where improvement to water quality is desired, <br />including the following: <br />• Drainage from historic mining areas: Drainage from mined areas can impede attainment <br />of water quality standards. Several streams in the Yampa watershed have been impacted <br />from historic mining activities, as described in the Colorado Inactive Mine Reclamation Plan <br />produced by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. Of particular concern is Oak <br />Creek in Routt County, which has been impacted by ARD from previously mined areas. <br />Nonpoint source pollutants frrom development areas: Nonpoint source pollution from <br />development areas is a significant issue in the watershed. ~~Uater pollutants in nonpoint <br />source runoff from urbanizing areas can include nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), <br />sediment, heavy metals, petroleum products, and organic pesticides. As the rural `~1est Slope <br />continues to grow, the areas contributing to construction-related erosion and urban runoff <br />will also increase. <br />• Point source discharges from developed areas: Point source discharges in the basin are <br />typically well managed. Advanced wastewater treatment is often required for ammonia <br />removal to protect fisheries and ;advanced phosphorus removal is required in some mountain <br />• watersheds. Continued attention to point sources is needed to ensure that the region's high <br />quality water streams are protected. <br />Hydrologic modifications from water projects: Hydrologic modifications include changes <br />in stream channels, stream flows or the timing of those flows, often resulting from water <br />projects. DUater quality concerns can accompany major water use and development projects. <br />Included in these concerns are: conversion of agricultural water to municipal use (loss of <br />groundwater recharge); change in timing of return flows (speciFically related to snowmaking); <br />"dewatering" stream segments between municipal water diversions and wastewater return <br />flows; and the "consumptive use" of various beneficial water uses. In-basin consumption can <br />be calculated using general figures of 10% consumption for municipal use, 20-25% <br />consumption for snowmaking, and approximately 1.8 acre-feet per acre irrigated for <br />agriculture (N~`UCCOG, 1996). <br />Large area soil disturbance activities: Large area soil disturbance activities such as mining, <br />agriculture, timber harvesting, grid ski area expansion present the potential for water quality <br />impacts, when conducted improperly. The USFS has identified areas where excessive soil <br />loss from existing timber harvest operations require remedial actions to protect water quality-. <br />In addition, large area surface mining operations can contribute excessive soil loss, if <br />improperly managed. At present, these operations are well controlled under permits from <br />the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology and the USFS. All watersheds, however, are <br />potentially vulnerable to water qu.ality• impacts resulting from large area soil disturbances. <br />• Roadways and pavements: ~~'ater quality- problems associated with roadways and <br />pavements include sediment and associated nutrients resulting from road cuts and fills, <br />• continuing erosion of unstable slopes adjacent to roads, erosion of unpaved road and parking <br />surfaces, and road sanding operations. To a lesser degree, hea~ry metals, petroleum products, <br />and hazardous materials spills along roadways near water bodies also have been documented <br />KCCI) * l-li~ Pme Grnre Itih~d, S}rile 201; I *,f'lrumhnal.Sp~iug~; CD ,YO-F.Y7 * (`Jill) 87J-322 <br />