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. 00287S DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA . The White River has its headwaters near Trappers Lake in Northwest Colorado, and from this high mountain source flows westward to its junction with the Green River in Eastern Utah. The upper White River drainage is characterized by high mountain forests and scattered meadows utilized for livestock grazing. Further downstream ranching and farming practices become more intensive with the large scale use of irrigation in the river bottoms. A major tributary, the South Fork White River, flows northward from the Fl attops \~il derness Area and joi ns the North Fork White Ri ver at Buford. From the confluence at Buford the White River flows westward through Rio Blanco County and the towns of Meeker and Rangely. Both towns are expected to undergo significant growth due to the development of coal and oil shale resources in the area. Two federal oil shale lease sites are located in the Piceance Creek drainage approximately 40 km (25 mil southwest of Meeker, while coal development is occurring at numerous, locations throughout northwestern Colorado. Piceance Creek was not sampled during these studies because it is being extensively studied by oil shale deve lopers and the USGS. The White River study area included a stream reach of approximately 200 km (125 mil with nine water quality sampling stations located on the mainstem and eight stations located on tributary streams (the South Fork White River is considered a tributary for purposes of this study). These stations were located at points of reasonable access which would produce representative physical and chemical water quality data. Addi- tional sampling was conducted at two locations on Milk Creek, a tributary of the Yampa River located approximately 30 km (19 mil northeast of Meeker. The segment of Milk Creek sampled during these studies flows through an area of intensive farming and ranching similar to the lower White River drainage, and has been proposed as a possible future reservoir site. The station locations (and water quality parameters) were selected and approved prior to the study by representatives of the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The location of all stations is shown on the map in Fig. 1 and described in Table 1. . . . . . . . . 4 . i. " ">' :lI""'!'