WSP04251

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: White River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 5/1/1977
• Author: USEPA
• Title: Report of Baseline Water Quality Investigations on the White River in Western Colorado - September through October 1975 and May through June 1976
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

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The Grand Junction office of the Bureau of Reclamation requested that
EPA provide technical assistance in the form of baseline physical and
chemical water quality data for the White River drainage and Milk Creek
in Western Colorado to be used in evaluating potential impacts from a
proposed multi-purpose water development project. In fulfillment of that
request EPA conducted water quality studies on 200 km (125 mi) of the
Whi te Ri ver plus selected tri butari es and Mil k Creek duri ng a "low flow"
period in the Fall of 1975 and during a "high flow" period in the Spring
of 1976.

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Stream flows during the two studies were considered to be representa-
tive of average "low flow" and "high flow" conditions. "High" flows
were as much as ten times greater than "low" flows at some locations.

8ecause the two studies were essentially "baseline" investigations,
all results were compared with recommended criteria and/or proposed
stream standards (criteria/standards) to identify existing or potential
water quality problems. The selected criteria/standard values were the
most restri cti ve 1 eve 1 s specifi ed for the protection of vari ous water uses,
Such as drinking water supply, aquatic life/wildlife, irrigation, and
livestock. Although sampling in the lower portion of the White River
drainage (particularly near Range1y) indicated numerous violations of
criteria/standards, the upper drainage (upstream from Meeker) contained
water that, with few exceptions, was of generally high quality.

Most of the problems identified in the mainstem White River, including
the North Fork, occurred at the furthest downstream station at Range1y,
Colorado at RM 78.2. Values exceeding the criteria/standards were observed
for TDS (557 mg/1), TSS (620 mg/1), aluminum (9780 mg/1), iron (12500 mg/1),
copper (20 ~g/l), manganese (295 ~g/l), zinc (75 ~g/l) and total phos-
phorus (0.630 mg/1 as Pl. All of the mainstem stations between Meeker
and Range1y also contained concentrations of TSS, iron, and total phos-
phorus in excess of the criteria/standards. In the upper White River
drainage between Meeker and Trappers Lake, only iron and zinc concentrations
were measured in excess of the criteria/standards, with zinc occurring in
greater concentrations near the headwaters than in the downstream area.
Of the various parameters discussed above, only TDS and total phosphorus
concentrations were considered to be directly influenced by man's activities
in the drai nage area. These two parameters exceeded the criteri a/ standa rds,
at least partially, because of return flows from irrigated lands bordering
the White River. If impoundments of water are planned in the lower White
River basin, the algal growth potential of the nutrient-rich water should
be evaluated by conducting algal assays.

Of the six tributary streams sampled during these studies, Yellow
Creek contained numerous parameters in excess of recommended criteria/
standards, including dissolved oxygen (4 mg/1), alkalinity (1589 mg/1 as
CaC03)' TDS (2710 mg/1), TSS (91 mg/1), sodium (868 mg/1), iron (1750 ~g/l),

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