Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality, Sediment, and Biota Associated with Irrigation and Drainage

• Description: ARCA
• State: CO
• State: KS
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1991
• Author: David K. Mueller, U.S. Geologic Survey, Lawrence R. DeWeese, U.S.F.W.S, A. Jack Garner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Timothy B. Spruill
• Title: Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality, Sediment, and Biota Associated with Irrigation and Drainage
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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STUDY AREA
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Wichita
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Figure 1. -- Location of the study area.
The Arkansas River originates to the northwest of the study area near
Leadville, Colo. The river flows south and east through mountainous terrain,
emerging from the mountains west of Pueblo at an altitude of about 5,000 ft.
At Pueblo, the river is impounded to form Pueblo Reservoir, near the western
boundary of the study area.
From Pueblo, the Arkansas River flows eastward across Colorado, passing
through flat terraces and nearly level flood plains. Along the way, a number
of perennial and intermittent tributaries that drain areas to the north and
south flow into the river. Headwaters of all the perennial tributaries are
in the mountains. The Arkansas River and its tributaries drain an area of
25,410 mi in Colorado, including 4,669 mi upstream from Pueblo Reservoir.
The Arkansas River enters Kansas at an altitude of 3,350 ft and continues
to flow eastward for about 60 mi to Garden City (altitude 2,950 ft) near the
eastern boundary of the study area. The drainage area of the Arkansas River
between the Colorado - Kansas State line and Garden City is about 3,000 mi
2