PROJ00527

• Contract/PO #: FS0024X
• Contractor Name: Florida Water Conservancy District
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: La Plata
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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5.4.2 Water Quality
Water Quality Regulations have been established which
classify stream segments and provide numeric standards for all of
the streams, tributaries and standing bodies of water in
Colorado. The classifications identify the actual beneficial
uses for which the water is sui table and the numeric standards
are assigned to determine the allowable concentrations of various
parameters.

Based on the "Classifications and Numeric Standards for San
Juan River and Dolores River Basins (3.4.0)", Lemon Reservoir is
classified as a Recreation Class I (whole body contact recreation
where primary contact recreation actually exists or could rea-
sonably be expected to occur) and Aquatic Life Class I cold water
body (a water body which provides or could provide a habitat
consisting of water quality levels and other considerations such
as flow or streambed characteristics which do or could protect
and maintain a wide variety of cold water biota, including
sensitive species). The Florida River below the dam outlet (i.e.
the mainstem) has been classified as Recreation Class 2 (where
primary contact recreation does not exist) and Aquatic Life Class
I cold water body. Both water bodies have been identified as
serving water supply and agricultural needs.

Out of the 27 water quality parameters (excluding organics
and uranium) developed for these two bodies of water, only two
differ in numeric value: fecal coliform and cadmium. The fecal
coliform (f.c.) standards for the reservoir, which is classified
as Recreation Class 1, is 200 f.c./IOO milliliter (ml) , while for
the Florida River below the dam the standard is 2,000 f. c ./100
mI. The cadmium standard is 0.0007 milligram per liter (mg/l)
for the Florida mainstem and 0.0004 mg/l for Lemon Reservoir.
Both of these standards are more stringent for the reservoir
because of the classification as Recreation Class 1. Cadmium is
a heavy metal that directly affects the nervous system and fecal

5.0-12