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

CONTENTS

NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ..... .......... ....... .... .......... .... ...... ........ ... ...... IV

SUMMARY OF MAJOR FI NDINGS........ ......................... ....... .............. .... .... ... ..................... .... .......... 1

Stream and river highlights ...... ........ ....... ........ .... .......... ........ ................. .............. ......................... 1
G rou nd-wate r highlights................................................................................................................ 2

INTRODUCTION TO THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASiN........................................................ 3

MAJOR FI N DIN G S ............................................................................................................................. 6

Urban Development is a Water-Quality Issue Within the Southern Rocky Mountains .................. 6

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Biological measures indicate that urban sites in the UCOL
are less degraded when compared to other urban sites nationally............................................ 8

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Radon concentrations in UCOL ground water were
generally higher than other areas of the Nation......................................................................... 9

The Quality of Streams and Rivers is Affected by Historical Mining Activities .............................. 11

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Trace elements in streambed sediments of the UCOL
were often greater than concentrations found at other sites nationally...................................... 12

Water-Quality Characteristics of Agricultural Areas ..................................................................... 15

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Herbicides commonly detected in the UCOL were also
commonly detected in other agricultural areas nationally......................................................... 17

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Nitrogen concentrations at the UCOL agricultural sites
were greater than concentrations for many agricultural sites nationwide.................................. 18

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE-Biological measures indicate that UCOL agricultural and
Colorado Plateau mixed land use sites rank among the more degraded sites nationally.......... 19

STUDY UNIT DESiGN........... ........ ........... ........ .............................................. ........... ......................... 21

GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................................ 23

R E FE R EN C ES ................................................................................................................................... 25

APPENDIX-WATER-QUALlTY DATA FROM THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN IN A

NATIONAL CONTEXT..... ...... ......................................... ....... ........... ... .............................. ....... .......... 28