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beak <br />In most natural waters the dissolved solids will consist primarily of <br />• carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides, sulfates, phosphates or nitrates of <br />calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and manganese (McKee and Wolf <br />1963). The data available indicate a somewhat elevated concentration of <br />dissolved minerals at the downstream stations. This is not an unusual <br />situation. Streams tend to pick up more dissolved materials as they flow <br />from highlands to the valleys. Certainly there is no evidence of any <br />significant pollution problem involving toxic materials. <br />The presence of increased amounts of volatile solids at stations D, <br />E, and F is indicative of higher levels of organic matter at these stations. <br />This may or may not be due to a pollution situation. <br />The samples were collected at a time of low flow when there was little <br />• rainfall and no apparent surface runoff from the mine site. Sampling under <br />other conditions may produce different results. <br />The USDA (1975) channel stability evaluation system revealed little or <br />no differences among surveyed permit area reaches on the North Fork (Table <br />3.o-1j. Based on adjective ratings obtained during surveys, each surveyed <br />reach was categorized as good in terms of the ability of the surveyed channel <br />to adjust and recover from potential changes in flow, obstruction, and <br />sediment load. The integrity of substratum, bank rock content, and lack of <br />unstable debris in the area were particularly important factors in this <br />determination. <br />The average density and width of riparian vegetation varied among <br />stations. Both stations C and F had sufficient riparia to provide nearshore <br />• areas a highly stable streambank as well as shade, root cover, and leaf <br />3-8 <br />