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Status of Water Quality in Colorado Arkansas River Basin The Arkansas River basin is the large~t in Colorado, comprising 27 percent of the surface area of the state and 20 percent ot~ the population. The Arkansas headwaters have been subjected to intensive mining activity that has severely impaired some of these waters (Illost of the drainages in the Leadville area, lake Creek and Chalk Creek). The quality of the main stem of the Arkamas and its tributarit's is excep- tionally good between UuenJ Vista and Pueblo Reservoir. The Arkansas is the most t'xtensivdy llsed river in the start.' tor recreational boating. The main stem of the Rio Grande, as wdl as ground water within the flat agricultural areas of the San Luis Valley. are l~~ed heavily for agriculture. Nutrients such as ammonia and nitrate increase in concentration in this area. A portion of the Rio Grande main stem and several of its tributaries above Del None are high-quality, gold-medal fisheries. The Arkansas and its tributaries belO\v Pueblo Rest'rvoir Jre utiliud tor agricultural purposes and municipal water supplies. The return flow from these uses concentrates salts and other toxic pollu- tants (arsenic and sdeniul11) that occur naturally in this region. Rio Grande Basin Tht' Rio Grande River basin encompasses about 7.2 percent of the surf..1ce art'a of the state. Water quality throughout the basin is generally good, and as the Rio Grande exits Colorado, it is of very high quality. The San Luis Vallt'Y. at the center of the basin, is the largest mountain valley all earth. It is also Ollt' of the 1110<;t productive agricultural areas in the state. Several tributaries in the headwaters of the Rio Grande basin have been impacted by mining activities, including Willow Creek near Creede, Kerber Creek above Bonanza, the Alamosa River below Summitville, and the Conejos River within the Platoro mining dis- trict. Platte Basin The Platte Basin comprises 29 percent of the state's surf:\ce area and is home to 6H percent of the popu- lation. The water quality of the region varies tremendously, from high-quality mountain streams to streams impacted by urban development and agricultural activities. The North Platte River and its tributaries are, gen- erally, high-quality waters. Many of the headwater tributaries of the SOllth Platte have been impacted by extensive mining activities in, among others, Clear Creek. Boulder, Gilpin and Park counties. Fifty-six percent of the state's population lives in the Denver metropolitan area. Not surprisingly. the South Platte River system in this area is impaired by pollutants including nitrate, amlllonia and copper, f '3,ted;j u\ fisheries ",e Colorado b ::I trOUt S oes\~(\ S gold tile 0\ '(,; as/I) / ~he state ColOr 'reams .0" S larger tn'" Of Ind. are 50 E H 5 'ngs i0 ado (,,'0 lana. There . Ot pn o " '" This sta.'(,;e