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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'..0 <br />0') <br />....1 <br />l\J <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />CHAPTER IV <br />WATER QUALITY IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />The Water Quality Control Situation <br /> <br />The intermountain and southwestern regions are the fastest growing <br /> <br />regions in the United States and yet their development is controlled by one <br /> <br />of the most basic resources--water. Water is present on the land surface <br /> <br />as streams or lakes or below the land surface as groundwater. Artesian and <br /> <br />pumped wells along with springs allow society to use groundwater. Surface <br /> <br />waters are usually more accessible for use. This is reflected by the fact <br /> <br />that alm,()st all surface waters in the Basin have been filed for as controlled <br /> <br />water 'rights. <br /> <br />In this region the control and management of the quantity of water <br /> <br />has always received a large amount of economic and political support <br /> <br />because of the obvious tangible benefits. However, the increasing compe- <br /> <br />tition for use of the water resource and the increased leisure time which <br /> <br />Americans have, is causing an evaluation of the quality of the water supply <br /> <br />in addition to the old question of "how much water is there and how can I <br /> <br />increase this amount? " <br /> <br />Many water supplies in the intermountain region are very good <br /> <br />quality. Generally, this means that the water is high in dissolved oxygen, <br /> <br />permitting successful sport fisheries; the water is clear at: at least not <br /> <br />i <br />