Laserfiche WebLink
<br />5.0 RECONNAISSANCE OF SURFACE-WATER QUALITY <br />5.1 Sampling sites <br /> <br />CHEMICAL DETERMINATIONS WERE MADE AT 45 SITES <br /> <br />Water samples were analyzed for major chemical constituents, <br />nutrients, and trace elements to describe water quality. <br /> <br />A low-flow, water-quality reconnaissance was conducted in August 1981. <br />Samples were collected at 45 sites for chemical analysis (fig. 5.1-1). <br />Fourteen sites were on the White River and 31 sites were on tributaries. <br />Twenty-five of the sampling sites are streamflow-gaging stations. Sampling- <br />site selection was based on geology and land-use patterns in the basin. The <br />station identification numbers and names are listed in tables 5.1-1 and 5.1-2. <br /> <br />The drainage area upstream from the farthest downstream site, M-14, White <br />River at mouth, is 5,120 square miles. Elevation ranges from about 12,000 <br />feet in the headwaters upstream from site M-1, North Fork White Ri ver at <br />Trappers Lake outlet, to 4,900 feet at site M-14. The length of the White <br />River from site M-14 to site M-l is 216 river miles. For this report, the <br />North Fork White River is considered an extension of the main channel of the <br />White River and is not considered a tributary. Major tributaries are the <br />South Fork White River, Piceance Creek, and Yellow Creek. <br /> <br />The chemical composition of streams reflects the effects of the rocks and <br />minerals with which the water comes in contact. Entrained gases and nutrients <br />also contribute to the chemical characteristics of streams. The <br />data-co 11 ect i on program cons i sted of samp 1 i ng water for major chemi ca 1 con- <br />stituents, nutrients, and dissolved and total-recoverable trace elements, and <br />sampling bed material for trace elements. Onsite determination of water <br />temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and water discharge <br />were made at all sites. <br /> <br />22 <br />