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<br />002902 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />was observed to have a negligible flow). The remalnlng 58 metric tons per <br />day were due to saline groundwater inflows, irrigation return flow, and <br />other non-point contributions (see Table 3). <br /> <br />Although TDS concentrations at most sampling locations were generally <br />twice as high during the "low flow" period as during the "high flow" <br />period, the greatest salinity load in the White River occurred at "high <br />flow" during Spring runoff (Table 3). During this period, the salinity <br />load increased from 32 metric tons' per day near the headwaters (NF-1B) to <br />922 metric tons per day at Rangely (WR-l). This great increase is due <br />primarily to leaching of dissolved minerals from the exposed river banks <br />during periods of "high flow". Sampling on Milk Creek revealed these <br />same general trends during each flow period. <br /> <br />Specific conductance (conductivity) measurements were made at all <br />locations and can be compared with TDS concentrations for each location. <br />Except for Yellow Creek, conductivity values in the White River drainage <br />averaged generally less than 1000 ~mhos/cm, ranging from 90 ~mhos/cm near <br />Trappers Lake to 790 ~mhos/cm near Rangely. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Suspended Solids <br /> <br />Total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations and loads were, as <br />expected, much greater during Spring runoff than during the "low flow" <br />study (see Table 3 and Fig. 9). Concentrations averaged generally two to <br />ten times higher during Spring runoff (maximum concentration of 620 mg/l <br />at WR-l), while loadings were as much as 50 times higher during runoff than <br />during the "low flow" period (maximum load of 2432 metric tons per day at <br />WR-l). Part of the reason for the high suspended solids concentration and <br />load at Rangely (WR-l) during Spr~ng runoff was that Douglas Creek was <br />contributing approximately 1.42 m /s of extremely muddy water to the White <br />River just upstream from Rangely. However, since Douglas Creek was not <br />included in the sampling program, no chemical samples were obtained. <br /> <br />The recommended mean TSS criterion of 25 mg/l for fish and wildlife <br />protection was exceeded during Spring runoff at all sampling locations on <br />the White River below Meeker and in Yellow Creek, Little Beaver Creek, <br />Coal Creek, and Milk Creek. During "low flow", TSS concentrations still <br />averaged above the criterion level in all these streams and in the White <br />River below Yellow Creek (RM 111.0). The data in Table 3 appears to show <br />good correlation between measured turbidity values and TSS concentrations, <br />as would be expected. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />! <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Common Mineral s <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Concentrations of the common minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, <br />potassium, and chloride) were generally highest during the "low flow" <br />period when groundwater recharge constituted a larger portion of the total <br />river flow. The profiles for sodium and chloride concentrations shown in <br /> <br />28 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'1 <br /> <br />;'- <br />