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Diatoms occurred frequently in the >505-µm size- <br />fraction due to the screen on the collection bucket <br />becoming partially plugged during sampling. Qual- <br />itative examination of the materials showed com- <br />position to be dominated volumetrically by filament- <br />ous green algae (C/adophora sp.), and by large <br />zooplankton such as adult Daphnia sp. (tables 26A <br />through 33A). Macrophyte fragments from pond- <br />weeds of the genus Potamogeton and the genus <br />E/odea were often present and periodically abund- <br />ant. (As noted earlier, the POM collected in this size- <br />fraction was very small and sampling was later <br />discontinued.) All particulate matter and POM data <br />are reported in tables 42A through 50A. <br />RESULTS - PHASE 2 <br />Phase 2 primary objective was to determine the <br />origin of the POM in the system. Phase 1 POM results <br />were used to formulate phase 2 field studies. Figure <br />5 depicts the quantity, gross composition, and <br />general distribution of particulate matter during <br />phase 1. Obvious upstream todownstream increases <br />were apparent in both POM and inorganic matter. <br />Comparisons of tailwater stations at Davis Dam and <br />Parker Dam, with the next downstream station at <br />Park Moabi and Headgate Rock Dam, respectively, <br />indicated that reservoirs were trapping inorganic <br />matter. Increases in both organic and inorganic <br />materials downstream from Headgate Rock Dam <br />clearly indicate that additions were being made to <br />the lower river system. Perennial tributaries do not <br />exist which could input such materials between <br />Parker Dam and Yuma. The physical features of the <br />system which could possibly account for these <br />additions were: <br />• Backwater complexes along stream boundaries <br />• Agricultural activities such as irrigation return <br />flows through agricultural drains <br />• Sediment sluicing at water diversion facilities <br />• Streambank erosion along the main channel <br />• Storm events which occurred during the actual <br />sampling <br />New sampling stations were added to isolate <br />representatives of these features along the river <br />system during phase 2. <br />Figures 5 and 6 illustrate, during phases 1 and 2, <br />particulate matter was trapped by the reservoirs. <br />However, the upstream to downstream increases in <br />particulate matter gbserved during phase 1 did not <br />occur during phase 2. Percent POM and POM <br />concentrations in the drift are shown on figures 7 <br />and 8, respectively. These figures indicated that both <br />the concentration and composition of particulate <br />matter fluctuated greatly during phase 2. While all <br />parameters measured in phase 1 were repeated in <br />phase 2, only those parameters which appear <br />relevant to POM are discussed. All data collected <br />are presented in the appendix. <br />Impoundments/Reservoirs <br />The introduction in this study pointed outthat a major <br />question was whether or not dams on the lower <br />Colorado River block transport of organic material. <br />Figure 6 shows that at Parker Dam (just below Lake <br />Havasu) mean concentrations of both total and <br />inorganic particulate matter were lower than the two <br />stations above Lake Havasu-Park Moabi and <br />Havasu Delta. Figure 7 infers that the reservoirs <br />(lakes) release a higher percentage of POM than <br />other stations in the river system. The corollary is <br />45 <br />PHASE 1 <br />40 <br />,, 35 <br />E <br />° 30 <br />25 <br />W <br />3 <br />zo <br />® INORGANIC MATTER <br />® POM <br />DAVIS PARK PARKER READGATE PALO VERDE CII9OLA IMPERIAL -A <br />DAM MOABI DAM NOCK DAM DIVERSION DAM <br />DAM <br />Figure 5.-Composition of dry weight during phase 1 <br />at all sampling stations. <br />45 <br />ao PHASE 2 <br />35 INORGANIC MATTER <br />E ® POM <br />30 <br />r <br />25 <br />w <br />20 <br />} <br />R <br />_J 15 <br />0 <br />to <br />DAVIS PARK NAVASU PARKER PALO CIBOLA PALO DRS IMPERIAL ALL I <br />DAM MOABI DELTA DAM VERDE VERDE DAM AMERICAN <br />DIVERSION IRRIGATION CANAL <br />DAM DRAIN <br />Figure 6.-Composition of dry weight during phase 2 <br />at all sampling stations. <br />16