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A growth in population probably would be associated with an increase in energy development, causing a possible increase of wastes discharged into streams (Wentz and Steele, 1980). This increase in wastes might cause water- quality problems. Information on traveltime, longitudinal-dispersion, reaera- tion, and basin characteristics may prove useful to State and local officials, planners, and managers in making decisions concerning energy developments. The traveltime, longitudinal-dispersion, and reaeration data provide informa- tion on how fast wastes move downstream, how they are dispersed longitudinally in streams, and how rapidly streams can assimilate certain forms of treated wastes, The basin-characteristics data provide information on the land sur- face, stream channels, and the water available within the basin, Purpose and Scope The main purpose of the study was to determine traveltime and longitu- dinal-dispersion characteristics for streamflow in designated reaches of the White River for a range of stream-discharge conditions. A second purpose was to determine the reaeration coefficient (K2) for four reaches on the White River' and to compare them with computed reaeration coefficients using various empirical equations. Only brief descriptions of traveltime and reaeration measurement techniques are included in this report. Explanations of these techniques are described in detail in referenced reports. Basin characteris- tics were included in this report to provide baseline data on the physical and climatic conditions of the basin and the channel geometry prior to energy resource development in the White River basin. A description of the geologic characteristics in the White River basin was not included in this report, but is given in Boyle and others (1984). Study Area The White River basin is located in northwestern Colorado and northeast- ern Utah (see fig. 1). The surface area of the basin is 5,120 square miles, 74 percent of which is in Colorado and 26 percent in Utah. The White River flows to the west and drains into the Green River in Utah. Most of the tribu- taries, such as the South Fork White River, Piceance Creek, and Yellow Creek, drain from the south into the White River. An average of 70 percent of the annual flow of the White River occurs during the spring months as a result of snowmelt runoff. The White River basin contains extensive energy resources consisting of oil, natural gas, coal, and oil shale. Existing energy production within the basin consists primarily of oil and natural gas, and some coal. Rio Blanco County, Colo., containing the Rangely oil and natural gas fields, ranks first in Colorado for production of these two resources. The most underdeveloped natural resource in the basin is the extensive oil-shale deposits. A second- ary land use in the basin is agriculture. The land is used for livestock p.roduction and to grow hay and grain. 2