WSP04876

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1983
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 11 - January 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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PART V

COLORADO RIVER WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT

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The .....ater qual ity data for the upper segment of the Price
River, from Price City to headwaters, indicate an impairment to cold
water fisheries due to phenols and phosphorus. The data used to deter-
mine this impairment however, come from only a single sample point on
Pleasant Valley Creek Which may not adequately repres~nt water quality in
this upper segment of the Price River. The lower segment of the Price
River, from its confluence with the Green River to Price City, shows
impairment to irrigation IIse. The problem parameters are sodilUll and
total dissolved solids, 'Which result from natural conditions, mInIng
activities and agriculture.

The Duchesne
ments to cold water
The probable causes of
t ion return flow, Bnd
imapinnent for public

River from My ton
fisheries because
these impairments
munic ipal point
water supply due

to its headwaters shows impair-
of turbidity and temperature.
are natural conditions, irriga-
sources. There is al so minor
to TDS, manganese, and nickel.

Cottonwood Creek and tributaries from highway V-57 to head-
waters are impaired for cold ...ater fisheries because of high levels of
phenols. The high phenols result from natural sources and mining activ-
ities. Relatively high manganese concentrations are of concern for
public water supply.

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The Fremont River through Capitol Reef National Park to head-
....aters is impaired for public water supply and cold water fisheries
because of moderate concentrat ions of manltanese. nickel, nitrogen, and
phosphorus. These result from natural sources, fish hatcheries, and
agricultural activities.

The San Rafael River from its confluence with Green River to
the confluence ....ith Ferron Creek is impaired to irrigation because
of high levels of total dissolved solids and sodium. They result from
natural sources, mining and irrigation.

The Virgin River and tributaries from the Utah-Arizona state-
line to headwaters are impaired for irrigation use because of total
dissolved solids, sodium and boron. These parameters result primarily
from natural conditions and to a limited extent from man-made conditions.

There are also water quality problems in several reservoirs
In the Colorado Basin, primarily related to eutrophication. This
problem has sometimes resulted in the total depletion of dissolved
oxygen at the bottom of some reservoirs during the period of algal
blooms, but particularly in the die-off period during the fall cooling.
Fish kills have been reported at Scofield, Stra...'berry, Soldier Creek,
and other small reservoirs.

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In the past. the blue-green algae In Utah's reservoirs have
largely been In irri~ation water suppl ies, and therefore onl", fisherv
and recreation ....ater uses have been impaired; however, continu~d grolo."th
has required that more reservoir "",ater be supplied for municipal use.
As a result, the potential taste and odor problems associated with

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