WSP07706

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: White River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 1/1/1993
• Author: USGS
• Title: Sediment Transport and Water-Quality Characteristics and Loads - White River - Northwestern Colorado - Water Years 1975 through 1988
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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AVERAGE ANNUAL SUSPENDED-
SEDIMENT LOADING CURVE--
Number is site number

80.000

100,000

, 20,000

140,000

160,000

3

3A
2.1

20,000

40,000

60,000

HVPOTHETICAL RESERVOIR CAPACITY. IN ACRE-FEET

Figure 12. Estimates of annual loss of initial reservoir capacity for possible reservoirs constructed on the
White River at or near sites 1-6. (Calculations based on averege annual suspended-sediment loads and
98-percent sediment retention, and an average sediment-size composition of 30 percent sand, 45 percent
silt, and 25 percent clay.)

WATER-QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS
AND LOADS

Constituents dissolved in natural streams can
vary greatly in concentration, depending on the source
and nature of the constituent, volume of water (dilution
factor), water temperature, concentrations of dissolved
gases, adsorption capacities of fluvial sediment, and
metabolic activities (Hem, 1985). Water-quality
characteristics such as water temperature, pH, and
dissolved oxygen often vary daily, depending on the
physical and biological environments. Measurements
of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and
dissolved oxygen commonly are made onsite. Con-
versely, concentrations of the major ions (used in this
report to calculate dissolved solids), nutrients, and
trace constituents tend to vary with geography, season,
and hydrology. Determinations for these values com-
monly are done in a laboratory.

Onslte Measurements

Water temperature, specific conductance, pH,
and dissolved oxygen were measured periodically dur-
ingdaytime at sites 1-4 during water years 1975-88 and
at sites 5 and 6 during water years 1983-88. Data for
each site were plotted against time, temperature,
streamflow, and other constituents. Values or concen-
trations were analyzed for possible correlations or for
trends within and among sites. A discussion of the
significant correlations or trends for the four onsite
measurements follows.

Water Temperature

Correlations of water temperature and stream
discharge at sites 1-6 are shown in fignre 13. Maxi-
mum temperatures occurred in summer during small

WATER-QUAUTY CHARACTERISTICS AND LOADS 29