Environmental Setting and Implications on Water Quality, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado and Utah
Water-Resources Investigations Report
95-4263
By: Lori E. Apodaca, Nancy E. Driver, Verlin C. Stephens, and Norman E. Spahr
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Abstract
The Upper Colorado River Basin in Colorado and Utah is 1 of 60 study units selected for water-quality assessment as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program, which began full implementation in 1991. Understanding the environmental setting of the Upper Colorado River Basin study unit is important in evaluating water-quality issues in the basin. Natural and human factors that affect water quality in the basin are presented, including an overview of the physiography, climatic conditions, general geology and soils, ecoregions, population, land use, water management and use, hydrologic characteristics, and to the extent possible aquatic biology. These factors have substantial implications on water-quality conditions in the basin. For example, high concentrations of dissolved solids and selenium are present in the natural background water conditions of surface and ground water in parts ofthe basin. In addition, mining, urban, and agricultural land and water uses result in the presence of certain constituents in the surface and ground water of the basin that can detrimentally affect water quality. The environmental setting of the study unit provides a framework of the basin characteristics, which is important in the design of integrated studies of surface water, ground water, and biology.
Suggested Citation
Apodaca, L.E., Driver, N.E., Stephens, V.C., Spahr, N.E., 1995, Environmental Setting and Implications on Water Quality, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado and Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4263, vi, 33 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri954263.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Environmental Setting and Implications on Water Quality, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado and Utah |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 95-4263 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri954263 |
| Year Published | 1995 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Description | vi, 33 p. |