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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1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
WATER YEAR

Figure 15. Periodic measurements of specific conductance at sile 4, water years 1975-88.

percent saturation curve, were least at site I
and greatest at sites 4-6.

3. Conditions of oxygen supersaturation tended
to be greatest during low streamtlows of sum-
mer and winter. A maximum supersaturation
of dissolved oxygen (149 percent) was mea-
sured in the White River at site 4 on September
10, 1984. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen
equal to or greater than 120-percent saturation
were measured at all sites. The occurrences of
supersaturated conditions in cold water (tem-
peratures less than 50C) indicate that algae or
aquatic plants probably were active in the
White River in winter.

4. Net oxygen depletions, as measured by
concentrations of dissolved oxygen less than
the IOO-percent saturation curve (fig. 17), were
least at sites 1-3 and greatest at sites 4 and 6.
Most concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the
White River were greater than 90-percent

saturation. Concentrations of dissolved oxy-
gen less than 90-percent saturation shown for
site 4 (fig. 17) were measured prior to 1981.
From 1981-88, all values of dissolved oxygen
measured at site 4 were greater than 91-percent
saturation. Because the occurrence and extent
of oxygen depletions in the White River
generally were small, biological or chemical
oxygen-consumption activities, or both,
probably were small.

The maximum and minimum values in this
report for water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen
need to be considered as range estimates. Because
extreme conditions may be more important to the
health of aquatic organisms than average conditions,
diel monitoring to determine daily ranges of water
temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved
oxygen during medium- and low-tlow periods at
several sites in the White River is necessary.

WATER-QUAUTY CHARACTERISTICS AND LOADS 33