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<br />site 6. Concentrations of organic nitrogen ranged from
<br />less than 0.16 to 1.50 mg/L. Phosphorus was measured
<br />once at a concentration of 0.62 mg/L at site 6, but most
<br />concentrations of phosphorus (45 of 51 samples) were
<br />equal to or less than 0.03 mg/L. Large nutrient concen-
<br />trations in intermittent runoff from agricultural lands
<br />probably caused concentrations of nitrogen and phos-
<br />phorus to increase downstream from site 4.
<br />
<br />Concentration ranges and distribution patterns
<br />for 22 trace constituents in the White River were deter-
<br />mined. In addition, concentrations ottotal cyanide in
<br />29 water saniples were less than 0.01 mg/L. Concen-
<br />trations of 15 trace constituents commonly were
<br />detected in the White River, and concentrations of 11
<br />trace constituents generally were greatest downstream
<br />from site 3. Total or total recoverable concentrations
<br />generally were greater than dissolved concentrations
<br />for eight constituents downstream from site 3. Sedi-
<br />ment loads increased downstream from site 3; thus,
<br />suspended sediment could be an important source or
<br />transportation medium for trace constituents in the
<br />White River.
<br />
<br />The White River is an important and renewable
<br />resource of good quality water in northwestern Colo-
<br />rado. Annually, large quantities of snowmelt, mostly
<br />from high elevations, enter the main stem of the White
<br />River from the North and South Fork Basins. Snow-
<br />melt contains small quantities of suspended sediment
<br />and dissolved solids. Thus, the high streamflow that
<br />originates from the North Fork and South Fork during
<br />spring and early summer dilutes and transports the
<br />large concentrations of suspended sediment and dis-
<br />solved solids that enter the White River from the cen-
<br />tral parts of the basin. Large quantities of fluvial
<br />sediment from semiarid tributary basins, large concen-
<br />trations of dissolved solids from ground-water sources,
<br />and concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in irri-
<br />gation return flow contribute to some decrease in water
<br />quality in the White River downstream from site 4.
<br />
<br />SELECTED REFERENCES
<br />
<br />Boyle, J.M., Covay, K.J., and Bauer, D.P., 1984, Quantity
<br />and quality of streamflow in the White River basin, Col-
<br />orado and Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Water-
<br />Resources Investigations Report 84-4022, 84 p.
<br />
<br />Brown, Eugene, Skougstad, M.W., and Fishman, M.J.,
<br />1970, Methods for collection and analysis of water
<br />samples for dissolved minerals and gases: U.S. Geo-
<br />logical Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investi-
<br />gations, Book 5, Chapter AI, 160 p. [Out of print;
<br />available only in U.S. Depository Libraries; this is the
<br />only version that contains field methods]
<br />
<br />Brune, G.M., 1953, Trap efficiency of reservoirs : American
<br />Geophysical Union Transactions, v. 34, no. 3, p. 407-
<br />418.
<br />Churchill, M.A., 1948, Analysis and use of reservoir sedi-
<br />mentation data with discussion by L.C, Gottschalk:
<br />Federal Inter-Agency Sedimentation Conference, Den-
<br />ver, Colo., 1947, Proceedings, p. 139-140.
<br />CH2M Hill Central, 1982, Phase 1 Report --Salinity investi-
<br />gation of the Meeker Dome unit: Denver, Colo., 134 p.
<br />Colby, B.R., 1963, Fluvial sediments--A summary of
<br />source, transportation, deposition, and measurement of
<br />sediment discharge: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin
<br />H81-A, 47 p.
<br />Durfor, C.N., and Becker, Edith, 1964, Public water supplies
<br />of the 100 largest cities in the United States, 1962: U.S.
<br />Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1812, 364 p.
<br />ElIiott, J.G., and DeFeyter, K.L., 1986, Sediment-data
<br />sources and estimated annual suspended-sediment
<br />loads of rivers and streams in Colorado: U.S. Geologi-
<br />cal Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-
<br />4344, 148 p.
<br />Emmett, W.W., 1980, A field calibration of the sediment-
<br />trapping characteristics of the Helley-Smith bedload
<br />sampler: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper
<br />1139, 44 p.
<br />Ferguson, R.I., 1986, River loads underestimated by rating
<br />curves: Water Resources Research, v. 22, no. 1, p. 74-
<br />76.
<br />Fishman, M.J., and Friedman, L.C., eds., 1989, Methods for
<br />determination of inorganic substances in water and flu-
<br />vial sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of
<br />Water-Resources Investigations, Book 5, Chapter AI,
<br />545p.
<br />Goerlitz, D.E, and Brown, Eugene, 1972, Methods for anal-
<br />ysis of organic substances in water: U.s. Geological
<br />Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations,
<br />Book 5, Chapter A3, 40 p.
<br />Guy, H.P.. 1969, Laboratory theory and methods for sedi-
<br />ment analysis: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of
<br />Water-Resources Investigations, Book 5, Chapter Cl,
<br />58p.
<br />_1970a, Fluvial sediment concepts: U.S. Geological
<br />Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations,
<br />Book 3, Chapter Cl, 55 p.
<br />_1970b, Sediment problems in urban areas: U.S. Geo-
<br />logical Survey Circular 601-E, 8 p.
<br />Guy, H.P., and Norman, V.W., 1970, Field methods for mea-
<br />surement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey
<br />Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 3,
<br />Chapter C2, 59 p.
<br />Hem, J.D., 1985, Study and interpretation of the chemical
<br />characteristics of natural water (3d ed.): U.S. Geologi-
<br />cal Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254, 264 p.
<br />
<br />.1
<br />
<br />68 Sediment Treneport end Water-Quality Characteristics and Loads,Whlte River, Northwestern Colorado, Water Years
<br />1975-68
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