WSP06331

• File Number: 8170
• Description: Arkansas Basin Water Quality Issues
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1991
• Author: USGS
• Title: Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality - Bottom Sediment - and Biota Associated with Irrigation Drainage in the Middle Arkansas River Basin - Colorado and Kansas - 1988-89
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

FIGURES

Page

Figures 1-4. Maps showing:
1. Location of the study area--------------------------- 6
2. Selected surface-water and political features
within the study area------------------------------ 7
3. Generalized surficial geology of the study area------ 10
4. Approximate extent of irrigated land within the
study area----------------------------------------- 12
5. Graph showing annual streamflow of the Arkansas River
at Portland, Colo., water years 1940-88----------------- 15
6. Graph showing annual streamflow of the Arkansas River
below John Martin Reservoir, Colo., water years
1944-88------------------------------------------------- 16
7. Map showing location of sampling sites in the study area-- 23
8. Schematic diagram showing relative orientation of
sampling sites and major streams, reservoirs, and
canals in the study area-------------------------------- 25
9-11. Graphs showing concentrations of selected constituents
in samples from:
9. Stream sites, August 1988---------------------------- 31
10. Reservoir sites, June and October 1988--------------- 33
11. Ground-water sites, August 1988---------------------- 34
12. Boxplots of historical speCific-conductance data and
valuea measured during the study in 1988---------------- 37
13. Boxplots of historical dissolved-selenium data and
concentrations in water samples collected during
the study in 1988--------------------------------------- 38
14. Graph showing relation of selenium concentrations in
reservoir water samples to concentrations in common
carp and gizzard shad at reservoir sites---------------- 49

Table 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

TABLES

Page

Median concentrations of total selenium from historical
data collected at water-quality monitoring sites
in the study area---------------------------------------~- 18
Number of samples collected during the study---------------- 20
Constituents analyzed in water, bottom-sediment,
and biota samples collected during the study-------------- 21
Identification of stream, reservoir, and ground-water
sites sampled in the study area--------------------------- 24
Colorado and Kansas water-quality standards and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criteria for
protection of aquatic life-------------------------------- 29
COlorado and Kansas water-quality standards and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant
levels for domestic water and agricultural supplies------- 29

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