9317 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9317
• Author: Spahr, N. E., L. E. Apodaca, J. R. Deacon, J. B. Bails, N. C. Bauch, C. M. Smith and N. E. Driver.
• Title: Water Quality in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado, 1996-98.
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

SUMMARY OF DATA COLLECTION IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN, 1996-98

Study What data were collected and why Types of sites sampled Number of Sampling frequency
component sites and period
Surface-Water Chemistry
Basic fixed Monthly samples collected for major ions, nutrients, organic Streams and rivers representing urban 14 Monthly plus additional
sites-general carbon, and suspended sediment to describe concentra- development, mining, agricultural, and high- or low-tlow sam-
water chem- tion variability and loads. Daily streamtlow also collected mixed land use. pies for water years
istry or computed. 1996-98
Intensive fixed All constituents collected for the fixed sites. Weekly to A subset of the fixed site network. One site 3 Weekly to monthly plus
sites monthly samples collected to describe temporal variabil- representing urban development, one additional high- or low-
ity in pesticide and volatile organic compounds concen- site representing agricultural land use, tlow samples for water
trations. and the outlet of the Study Unit. year 1997
Synoptic One time sample to describe the spatial variability of pesti- Agricultural drains. streams and rivers in 43 May 1998
sites-agricul- cides and nutrients in agricultural areas. the Grand and Uncompahgre Valleys.
ture Outlet of the Study Unit.
Synoptic Nutrient and algae samples along an upstream to down- Upstream to downstream sites along seven 30 March and September
sites-urban stream profile in areas of urban development to investi- tributary rivers. 1998
development gate intluences of urban development.
Ground-Water Chemistry
Land-use Samples collected for major ions, nutrients, 18 trace ele- Shallow monitoring wells 25 Spring and Fall 1997
effects-Urban ments, radon, dissolved organic carbon, 87 pesticides,
86 volatile organic compounds, bacteria (total coliform
and E. coli), and chlorotluorocarbons to describe the
effects of urban development on the shallow ground
water in five urban areas of the SOllthern Rocky Moun-
tains.
Aquifer Samples collected for major ions, nutrients, 18 trace ele- Private and municipal drinking-water wells 28 Once in 1997
survey- ments, radon, dissolved organic carbon, 47 pesticides, 86 Monitoring well I
Southern volatile organic compounds, and bacteria (total colifonn Spring I
Rocky and E. coli) to describe the water-quality conditions in
Mountains selected alluvial aquifers throughout the Southern Rocky
Mountains Physiographic Province.
Aquifer Samples collected for same as above (except that 13 of these Private and municipal drinking-water wells 14 Once in 1997
survey- sites were not sampled for pesticides or volatile organic Spring I
SOllthern compounds) to describe the water-quality conditions in
Rocky Moun- selected alluvial aquifers throughout the Southern Rocky
tains in or Mountains Physiographic Province for wells located in or
near mining near mining areas.
areas
Stream Ecology
Basic fixed sites Fish, invertebrate, and algae communities, trace elements. Streams and rivers representing urban 15 Fish community, inverte-
and organics in streambed sediment and fish tissue, and development, mining. agricultural, and brate community. and
habitat data were collected to assess the occurrence and mixed land use. algae August, 1996-98;
distribution within the UeOL. Habitat August 1996;
Streambed sediment and
fish tissue August-Octo-
ber 1995
Synoptic sites- Trace-element concentrations in streambed sediment, Areas of mining land use and background 32 August 1998
trace ele- aquatic moss, and water; and invertebrate community sites in areas of no mining.
ments structure to assess the spatial extent and magnitude of
trace-element contamination from mining areas.
Synoptic sites- Invertebrates, algae, and nutrients in water to characterize Sites within and downstream from devel- 5 February and September
Eagle River current conditions in an area of extensive urban develop- oped area,. Additional sites in areas that 1997
ment. may be developed in the future.

22 Water Quality in the Upper Colorado River Basin