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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />3.5 Water Quality <br /> <br />The quality of water in the Arkansas River varies considerably depending on time <br />of year and location. Irrigation return flows contribute substantially to the dissolved <br />solids concentration, increasing as one moves downstream. During high runoff, the <br />quality of water in terms of dissolved solids is generally better than in the times of low <br />flow, but the water may contain a high concentration of suspended sediment. Many <br />tributaries to the Arkansas River, such as Horse and Adobe Creeks, are comprised <br />principally of irrigation return flows and, consequently, are high in dissolved solids. In <br />general, the quality of the water available to the Fort Lyon is suitable for irrigation <br />use. The problem most significant to the Fort Lyon is the water quantity problem rather <br />than the water quality problem. <br /> <br />The dissolved solids concentrotion (salinity) is measured as specific conductance at <br />various locations on the Arkansas River and reported annually by the U.S. Geological <br />Survey) In water year 1981, temperature and specific conductance measurements were <br />made on selected days at Avondale (about 15 miles east of Pueblo), Las Animas, and <br />Lamar, and are summarized below: <br /> <br />Avondale Las Animas Lamar <br /> <br />Average Water Temperature (0 C) <br />Maximum Water Temperature <br />Minimum Water Temperature <br />Average Specific Conductance (micromhos) <br />Maximum Specific Conductance <br />Minimum Specific Conductonce <br /> <br />15.5 <br />26.0 <br />6.0 <br />906 <br />1220 <br />85 <br /> <br />17.4 <br />23.5 <br />4.0 <br />2618 <br />3700 <br />1200 <br /> <br />17.3 <br />24.0 <br />7.0 <br />3143 <br />5000 <br />1800 <br /> <br />The effect of the large amounts of irrigation in the Arkansas Valley is illustrated <br />by the large increase in salinity between Avondale and Lamar, and problems associated <br />with this salinity are present throughout the valley. The irrigation under the Fort Lyon <br />Canal does playa part in the salinity in the Arkansas River, but it is not anticipated that <br />the work will cause any significant increase in the concentration of dissolved solids in the <br />River. <br /> <br />A more detuiled water quality analysis was made on several days in 1981 just below <br />John Martin Reservoir and is given in Table 4. <br /> <br />I U. S. G. S. Water Resources Data - Colorado. Volume I <br /> <br />13 <br />