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PART IV COLORADO RIVER WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT e livestock watering is indicated sulfate, and TDS concentration. indicated in several reaches due in some reaches due to high chloride, Impairment of public water supplies is to sulfate concentration. The State of Wyoming is a member of the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum and is seeking reduced salinity levels through (1) the Big Sandy River Unit, (2) imrlementation of Forum policy for control of salinity through an NPDES1 permit, (3) implementation of nonpoint source controls through the water quality management planning process, and (4) participation with the Forum in other measures to control salinity. Other Water Quality Problems. --Although eutrophication of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and salinity loading are the major problems in the Green River Basin, there are other isolated impairments of use. Both second- ary and primary contact recreation are impaired as a result of high fecal coliform concentrations, and the fishery is impacted by un-ionized ammonia, heavy metals, low temperatures, and turbidity. B. Utah e Historically, Utah is the second driest State in the Nation. The water years from October 1981 through September 1983 had recordbreaking precipitation. The effects of a wetter climate on water quality are being identified as the available data are analyzed. The comparison of the 1984 water quality assessment to the 1982 water quality assessment shows that concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) are greater, while concentrations of other parameters such as TDS and nitrite-nitrate nitrogen are lower. When the holding capac- ity of the soils is approached, overland flow increases, thus increasing the erosion potential and increasing the concentration of TSS in waters. Examples include the Price, Green, and Colorado Rivers. Stream damage was found to be more extensive in areas where riparian vegetation had been removed and stream channels had been dredged, dis- turbing the stable substrate. The result is increased streamflows, increased erosion, and greater scouring of streambeds. Further erosion occurs when silt and debris clog natural stream channels causing new channels to be cut. The overall effect on water quality is a loss or degradation of established beneficial stream uses, especially fisheries. Concentrations of total phosphorus have increased in most streams as a result of the wetter climate. These increases are due to the in- creased amounts of overland flow and inundation of vegetated areas. Phosphorus is easily leached from soils and decaying organic matter and can be carried in organic and inorganic colloids, thus the increased concentrations of suspended sediments create an efficient carrier for phosphorus. e 1/ National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. 17