Laserfiche WebLink
<br />.. <br /> <br />1-' <br />(.It <br /> <br />water qual ity criteria. Potential mining activities associated with energy <br /> <br />r"", <br />"-.1) <br /> <br />development are also a serious concern. Septic tanks, package treatment plants, <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />and runoff from construction activities cause local ized problems in developing <br /> <br />areas throughout the basin. Although the population centers are generally small, <br /> <br />their proximity to high quality streams causes urban runoff to be a potential <br /> <br />problem. Secondary impacts from energy resource developments may affect both <br /> <br />the Colorado and Green River Basins. The exact nature of the impacts are not <br /> <br />yet defined and only development can determine the nature of the impacts. The <br /> <br />NPDES and BMP programs should alleviate impacts from direct discharges, but <br /> <br />stream depletion and changes in water use could affect stream assimilative <br /> <br />capacity to the detriment of quality. <br /> <br />Green Basin <br /> <br />The Green River drains the northwest corner of Colorado. The fishery <br /> <br />resource is generally excellent. Extensive coal and oil shale deposits in the <br /> <br />basin present potent ial point and nonpoint source problems. Runoff from winter <br /> <br />1 ivestock feeding areas cause col iform and dissolved oxygen problems. Septic <br /> <br />tanks present local ized problems. In both the Colorado Basin and the Green <br /> <br />Basin, the quality of the stream is not a determining factor in relation to the <br /> <br />ability of communities to meet the Primary Drinking Water Regulations. <br /> <br />CONCLUSIONS AND PRIORITIES <br /> <br />Surface Water Problems <br /> <br />1. The most ser iOlls water qual ity problems in Colorado are assoc iated <br /> <br />with inactive or abandoned mining operations. Waters draining from adits or <br /> <br />mill tails frequently to not meet water quality criteria for metals nor do <br /> <br />receiving waters support a diverse aquatic ecosystem. Affected stream segments <br /> <br />II .. 5 <br /> <br />J_ <br /> <br />......, <br /> <br />;;1",''; <br /> <br />'l; <br />,i>.::"~ <br />...-.~.. <br />;-~.... _'.._4..., <br />