Water Resources Circular 1214

By Norman E. Spahr, Lori E. Apodaca, Jeffrey R. Deacon, Jeffrey B. Bails, Nancy J. Bauch, C. Michelle Smith, and Nancy E. Driver

Available from the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USGS Circular 1214, 33 p.

This document also is available in pdf format: Circular 1214 (3.08 MB)
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NATIONAL WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS

Stream and river highlights

Ground-water highlights

INTRODUCTION TO THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

MAJOR FINDINGS

Urban Development is a Water-Quality Issue Within the Southern Rocky Mountains

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Biological measures indicate that urban sites in the UCOL are less degraded when compared to other urban sites nationally

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Radon concentrations in UCOL ground water were generally higher than other areas of the Nation

The Quality of Streams and Rivers is Affected by Historical Mining Activities

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Trace elements in streambed sediments of the UCOL were often greater than concentrations found at other sites nationally

Water-Quality Characteristics of Agricultural Areas

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Herbicides commonly detected in the UCOL were also commonly detected in other agricultural areas nationally

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Nitrogen concentrations at the UCOL agricultural sites were greater than concentrations for many agricultural sites nationwide

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE--Biological measures indicate that UCOL agricultural and Colorado Plateau mixed land use sites rank among the more degraded sites nationally

STUDY UNIT DESIGN

GLOSSARY

REFERENCES

APPENDIX--WATER-QUALITY DATA FROM THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN IN A   NATIONAL CONTEXT