WSP04900

• File Number: 8272.800
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control program - Interested Parties - NWCCOG
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1986
• Author: NWCCOG
• Title: Northwest Colorado Council of Governments -Areawide Water Quality Management Plan for Eagle - Grand - Jackson - Pitkin - Routt and Summitt Counties CO - revised December 1986 - VOLUME II - POLICY PLAN
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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This' qualitative ranking is based on
potential seriousness of the impact,
affected or likely to be affected, and the
control.

the existing or
miles of stream
degree of present

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~e~F-ef--tfie-f~~e Three of the four serious water quality
problems in both the existing and potential problem
categories in Region XII are non-point sources. Perhaps
half the total stream miles will be affected. The
threatened stream segments listed in Table 1.2 are point
source oriented because the system for identifying
threatened segments is point source oriented. Point source
controls will be applied to prevent damage to the
"threatened" stream segments. The real challenge for water
quality management lies in the area of non-point sources
control. Each problem category is briefly discussed below
and is discussed in detail in Chapter VII of Volume II under
the status of non point source control programs in the
Region,

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Hydrologic modifications resulting from existing and
projected water use and development projects in Region XII
are discussed in more detail in Chapter VII.A. of Volume II
and under Policy II of this volume. As a basis for
comparison with other categories of water quality
degradation a few figures may be useful. Currently 20
percent of the water yield from our six counties is ~iverted
under the Continental Divide to the cities on the front
range and for agricultural and other uses outside the
Region. By 1995 this figure is projected to rise to 36
percent. In Summit County by 1995 the projected level of
diversion is 86% of the entire Blue River Basin yield.
Water quality impacts accompany these major water use and
development projects. The amount of water available to
dilute natural and human-induced pollutants is reduced.
Fish are stressed more often when low flows are combined
with factors such as temperature and food supplies. Water
supply uses are eliminated when water is not present in a
stream. Some recreation uses are also dependant on minimum
flows to float rafts and to support lake levels. Without a
minimum quantity of water, efforts to protect water quality
become pointless. Water use and development projects are
listed as the most serious water quality problem in the
Region in terms of potential to degrade existing high levels
of water quality because of the number of uses affected and
the area of impact. All basins in the Region are
potentially affected as described in Policy 2.

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Acid mine drainage affects attainment of water quality

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