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<br /> <br />002536 <br /> <br />ANALYSIS OF WASTE-LOAD ASSIMILATIVE CAPACITY <br />OF THE YAMPA RIVER, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS TO HAYDEN, <br />ROUTT COUNTY, COLORADO <br /> <br />By Daniel P. Bauer and Timothy Doak Steele, U.S. Geological Survey, <br />and Richard D. Anderson, Colorado Department of Health <br /> <br />ABSTRACT <br /> <br />An analysis of the waste-load assimilative capacity of the <br />from Steamboat Springs to Hayden, Cplo., a distance' of 38 miles <br />meters), was made during September 1975 to obtain information on <br />of projected waste loadings on this stream reach. <br /> <br />Yampa River <br />(61 kilo- <br />the effects <br /> <br />Simulations of effects of waste loadings on streamflow quality were 'made <br />using a steady-state water-quality model. The simulations were based on 7-day <br />low-flow values with a 10-year recurrence interval and population projections <br />for 2010. Model results for December and September streamflow conditions <br />indicated that the recommended 1978 Colorado and 1976 U.S. Environmental, <br />Protection Agency water-quality standard of 0.02 milligram per liter for <br />nonionized ammonia concentration would be exceeded. Model simulations also <br />included the effect of a flow augmentation of 20 cubic feet per second (0.56 <br />cubic meter per second) from a proposed upstream reservoir. The permissible <br />ammonia loading in the study reach could be increased approximately 25 percent <br />with this amount of flow augmentation. Simulations of concentrations of <br />dissolved oxygen, fecal-coliform bacteria, and nitrate nitrogen indicated that <br />the State's water-quality goals proposed for 1978, 1983, or 1985 would not be <br />exceeded. <br /> <br />A comparative analysis using the U.S. Geological Survey model and' a <br />modified Pioneer-I model, developed by Battelle Pacific Northwest <br />Laboratories, was made with the observed data collected during September 1975. <br />Some variation was shown between the two model results for the constituents <br />considered. <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />As a result of Public Law 92-500 (Federal Water Pollution Control Act <br />Amendments of 1972), there are many studies now in progress for implementing <br />areawide wastewater-management plans throughout the United States. Within the <br /> <br />1 <br />