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<br /> <br />002551 <br /> <br />The profile for average concentrations of CBODs also is shown on figure <br />7. Except for a sub reach downstream from the main wastewater-treatment plant <br />at Steamboat Springs (site YE-3) and another subreach downstream from the Elk <br />River (site YT-9) near ,Milner, Colo. (table 2), the, concentrations of CBODS <br />are less than 3.0 mg/L. The larger values downstream from Steamboat Springs <br />were expected because of the effects of waste discharges, but the relatively <br />large values downstream from the Elk River are not readily explained. One <br />possible cause of the larger concentrations of CBODs downstream from the Elk <br />River is irrigation return flow in this area of the study reach. While the <br />24-hour survey was being completed, small volumes of return flow in this area <br />were noted, but no samples for analysis of BOD were collected. <br /> <br />The concentrations of total-coliform and fecal~coliform bacteria along, <br />the study reach are shown on figure 8. As shown, the higher coliform-bacteria <br />concentrations occur downstream from the Steamboat Springs area where the <br />larger proportion of treated-wastewater effluents discharge into the Yampa <br />River. The two profiles, in general, indicate a gradual die-off of coliform <br />bacteria with increasing distance downstream from Steamboat Springs. The <br />reason for the larger concentration of fecal-coliform ,bacteria in the vicinity <br />of site YM-12 is not known. <br /> <br />Variations in concentrations of total-coliform and fecal-coliform bacte- <br />ria for the 24-hour sampling period at site YM-4 are shown on figure 9. Site <br />YM-4 is located downstream from the effluent discharge of the main wastewater- <br />treatment plant at Steamboat Springs (fig. 6). The large coliform-bacteria <br />concentration at the site is the result of the upstream discharge of waste- <br />water effluents. Concentrations of total-coliform bacteria varied consider- <br />ably during the 24-hour sampling period; for example, coliform bacteria at <br />site YM-4 (fig. 9) ranged from 380 to 3,500 colonies/100 mL (milliliters) of <br />water. <br /> <br />The diel variations of DO concentrations are shown on figure 10 for sites <br />YM-2, YM-6, and YM-11 (fig. 6 and table 2). A general cyclical pattern is <br />observed at all three sites, with highs during daylight hours typifying <br />photosynthesis in the stream, and with lows at night ind,icating relative <br />effects of respiration. The largest diel variation (7 to 10.5 mg/L) occurred <br />at site YM-6, which is located approximately 5 mi (8 km) downstream from the <br />discharge outlet of the main wastewater-treatment plant at Steamboat Springs. <br />Site YM-2 is located upstream from this outlet. A diel variation of 8.2 to <br />10.2 mg/L in DO concentration occurred at site YM-2 during the 24-hour cycle. <br />Data at this site include the effects of the discharge from the wastewater- <br />plant at Mount Werner and any nonpoint sources from Steamboat Springs. Site <br />YM-11 is located upstream from Sage Creek on the Yampa River (fig. 6). A diel <br />variation of 7.3 to 9.7 mg/L in DO concentration occurred at this site during <br />the 24-hour cycle. Along the entire length of the study reach, and especially <br />in sections containing pools, varying concentrations of floating and attached <br />plants were observed. In some subreaches, these plant concentrations were <br />larger than in others, with the largest concentrations in the vicinity of <br />Steamboat Springs. <br /> <br />16 <br /> <br />r:~~~~}~.;:~;-;;i <br /> <br />