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<br />1846 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />or from about 1150 milligrams per liter (mg/l) to approximately <br />1550 mg/l. Such an increase may be expected to adversely affect <br />water uses in the South Platte River Basin below Julesburg and in <br />the Platte River below the confluence of the South Platte with the <br />North Platte. Determination of the extent to which increased <br />dissolved mineral concentrations will affect downstream water uses <br />would require extensive studies and is considered beyond the scope <br />of the present study. Limited work in this area is expected to be <br />undertaken by the South Platte River Basin Enforcement Project. <br />This will receive further consideration as a part of comprehensive <br />studies of the Missouri River Basin planned by the Department of <br />Health, Education, and Welfare. <br /> <br />5. The seasonal waste discharges from the sugar beet mills and the <br />municipal waste discharges from the cities of Fort Morgan, Brush, <br />and Sterling will be the main sources of organic wastes reaching <br />the river. The wastes from the large slaughterhouses will increase <br />municipal waste loadings significantly. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />6. Control of slime growths is the critical water quality parameter. <br />Extensive slime growths can result in elimination of fish food <br />organisms; are a nuisance to swimming, water skiing, and boating; <br />and are generally aesthetically offensive. Slime growths in the <br />river can be adequately controlled by controlling the biochemical <br />oxygen demand (BOD) concentration in the river. If slime growths <br />are adequately controlled it is anticipated that dissolved oxygen <br />concentrations in the river will be at least 4 mg/l. <br /> <br />7. Findings to date show that the desired water quality can be best <br />obtained by a combination of streamflow regulation and a high degree <br />of waste treatment. A minimum flow of 25 cubic feet per second (cfs) <br />is needed. to maintain a healthy aquatic environment in the South <br />Platte River from the Narrows Dam site to the Colorado-Nebraska <br />state line. This minimum flow is based on the assumption that the historic <br />diversion practices and rates of gain in streamflow will remain <br />essentially the same. It is anticipated that the resulting flows at <br />Fort Morgan, Brush, Sterling, and Ovid would be adequate through the <br />year 2000 to maintain desired water quality if all municipal and <br />industrial wastes receive adequate treatment. By the year 2060 the <br />minimum flow requirements will be about 33 cfs. However, the need <br />for additional flow may be offset by technological advancements in <br />waste treatment. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />8. In addition to the need for streamflow regulation below the Narrows, <br />other studies presently in progress show the need for streamflow <br />regulation in the South Platte River from above Denver to the Narrows <br />Dam. Preliminary results of these studies show the need for a minimum <br />flow of 25 cfs, At this time we consider 25 cfs as an absolute <br />minimum flow and anticipate that as studies continue the need for <br />larger stream flows may be necessary to obtain suitable water quality <br />in the South Platte River. As streamflow regulation is needed from <br />