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<br /> <br />~~~ <br /> <br />(abandoned/inactive) mining in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. These impacts <br /> <br />~j <br /> <br />relate to mine drainage and spoils areas, as well as tailings from milling <br /> <br />fl ~ activies. Sediment, the most prevalent nonpoint source pollutant, is found in <br /> <br />{1 Ul <br />:'1 .~ both the mountains and plains regions, and relates' to agricultural, <br />;:, <br />., <br />, silvicultural and urbani construction rUnoff. 'Perhaps the most significant <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />source of suspended sediment in Colorado is streambank erosion. This source <br /> <br />'.' <br /> <br />, <br />:! <br /> <br />has been identified throughout the courae of this assessment. Salinity, or <br /> <br /> <br />total dissolved solids, is a naturally occuring water quality problem in <br /> <br />Colorado. Man's activities, particularly agricultural practices in areas of <br /> <br />saline soils, further intensity these problems. Nutrients (phosphorus and <br /> <br />nitrogen) may create problems in lakes and reservoirs by promoting weed and <br /> <br />algae growth. Reduced recreational benefits and aquatic life habitat are the <br /> <br />result of excessive nutrient loading. The South Platte and Colorado Basins <br /> <br />.exhibit the most serious problems from nutrients which are derived from a <br /> <br />combination of construction and agriculture activities. Point source impacts <br /> <br /> <br />to surface waters also contribute to nutrient loadings. Bacteria have not <br /> <br /> <br />surfaced as a major nonpoint source problem in the streams and lakes of <br /> <br />Colorado. Minor problems have been noted in the Platte and Republican Basins. <br /> <br />The above information is summarized below in Tables 1 through 3, and. depicted <br /> <br />in Figures 1 through 5. The tables represent total stream miles impacted by <br /> <br />nonpoint sources in Colorado, miles of stream impacted by various nonpoint <br /> <br />source pollutants, and stream miles affected by nonpoint source generating <br /> <br />activities. Table 1 indicates the total stream miles impacted by nonpoint <br /> <br /> <br />sources of water pollution. The total number of miles, 3,342 is lower than <br /> <br />-13- <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />'~', <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />?i <br />(, <br />~~ <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />N <br /> <br />,:,." <br />. ~g, I <br />:'-/t I <br /> <br />..... <br />;w'~- <br />;lft <br /> <br />~i~ <br />;~;,Q~ <br /> <br />,r.' <br />.,'.. <br /> <br />,'..1 <br /> <br />- <br />