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<br />DISCUSSION OF RESULTS <br /> <br />Analyses of all samples collected during this reconnaissance investiga- <br />tion are reported in tables 8-20 in the "Supplemental Data" section at the <br />back of this report. Separate tables are included for water quality in <br />streams, reservoirs, and ground water; for chemical analyses of bottom sedi- <br />ment in streams and reservoirs; and for biota in streams and reservoirs. <br />Tables of data from reservoir sites also are separated by sampling period <br />(June or October). <br /> <br />Determination of Elevated Concentrations <br /> <br />Data collected during the reconnaissance investigation were compared to a <br />variety of standards, criteria, and baseline values to determine whether <br />samples contained elevated concentrations of particular constituents. These <br />standards, criteria, and baselines included: <br /> <br />1. Water-quality standards for the States of Colorado (Colorado <br />Department of Health, 1987, 1988) and Kansas (Kansas Department of Health and <br />Environment, written commun., 1987), and the U.S. Environmental Protection <br />Agency (1986 and 1987). <br /> <br />2. Geochemical baselines for soils from the Western United States <br />(R.C. Severson, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1987, based on data <br />in Shacklette and Boerngen, 1984). <br /> <br />3. Concentrations of trace elements and organochlorine pesticides in <br />fish and birds, based on national monitoring programs (Fleming and others, <br />1983; Lowe and others, 1985; Schmitt and others, 1985). (Baseline concentra- <br />tions from Lowe and others (1985) were converted to dry weight using 71 percent <br />moisture, as discussed by Lemly and Smith (1987).) <br /> <br />4. Concentrations of trace elements in fish associated with reproductive <br />problems or decreased survival (Gillespie and Baumann, 1986). <br /> <br />5. Concentrations of trace elements in bird livers associated with <br />reproductive problems or decreased survival (Beck, 1961; Finley and Stendell, <br />1978; Ohlendorf and others, 1978; White and Finley, 1978; Heinz and others, <br />1987; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1990). <br /> <br />6. Concentrations of trace elements in dietary material associated with <br />reproductive problems or decreased survival of birds (Heinz, 1980; Eisler, <br />1987; Heinz and others, 1987; Camardese and others, 1990; Sparling, 1990; <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1990). <br /> <br />The Colorado and Kansas water-quality standards and U.S. Environmental <br />Protection Agency (EPA) criteria and maximum contaminent levels for properties <br />and constituents analyzed in samples collected during the study are listed in <br />tables 5 and 6. Standards and criteria for protection of aquatic life are <br />listed in table 5. Standards and criteria for chronic and acute exposure <br />levels are presented. The aquatic-life standards for some trace elements are <br />based on a relation between the element concentration and the hardness of the <br />water. These standards are listed in table 5 as a range of concentrations for <br />hardness values from 100 to 1,000 mg/L, which were typical for water in the <br />study area. Standards and maximum contaminant levels for domestic water and <br />agricultural supplies are listed in table 6. <br /> <br />28 <br />