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Sources of Metal Loading to the Lake Fork from Turquoise Lake to the confluence with the Arkansas River

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Sources of Metal Loading to the Lake Fork from Turquoise Lake to the confluence with the Arkansas River

Study Area: Lake Fork of the Arkansas River, approximately 7 miles west of Leadville, Colorado
Period of Project: September 2001 to present
Project Number: CO51001
Project Chief: Katie Walton-Day
Cooperator: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

BACKGROUND:

The Lake Fork emerges from the outlet of Turquoise Lake at the Sugarloaf dam and flows approximately 5 miles before joining the upper Arkansas River. The first reach of the Lake Fork downstream from the dam is affected by drainage from abandoned mines in the Sugarloaf mining district. Whereas remediation of some of the mine sites has been initiated, Federal Land holders are interested in assessing the sources of metal-rich loads along the entire reach of the Lake Fork between Sugarloaf dam and the confluence with the upper Arkansas River. The U.S. Geological Survey is assisting in this effort by conducting a low-flow tracer-injection synoptic sampling study along the Lake Fork.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Conduct a low-flow synoptic sampling study along the Lake Fork between Sugarloaf dam and the confluence with the Arkansas River.
2. Conduct mass-loading analysis of the data generated from the synoptic sampling to assess the location and magnitude of metal-rich and acidic loading to the Lake Fork.
3. Prepare a formal report of the results of the mass loading analysis.