Water quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2006–2009
Van Grinsven M, Thoma D, Malick M, Moran M. 2010. Water quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2006–2009. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2010/358. Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report evaluates water quality monitoring data from 1,267 site visits made at 76 different locations on Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) streams and rivers in or near 12 NCPN park units between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009. Water quality monitoring in National Park Service units of the Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) is made possible through partnerships between the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program, individual park units, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the State of Utah’s Division of Water Quality. This report evaluates data from 1,267 site visits made at 76 different locations on NCPN streams and rivers in or near 12 NCPN park units between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009. Evaluation of water quality parameters relative to state water quality standards indicated that 24,878 (97.7%) of the 25,462 total designated beneficial-use evaluations completed for the period covered in this report did not exceed state water quality standards. While some exceedances were reoccurring and may have been caused by human activities in the watersheds, many were due to naturally occurring conditions characteristic of the geographic setting. The most common exceedances or indications of impairment, in order of abundance, were due to elevated nutrients, elevated trace metals, elevated bacteria (E. coli), low dissolved oxygen, elevated pH, elevated total dissolved solids, and elevated temperature.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Van Grinsven, Matt; Thoma, David; Malick, Matt; Moran, Mary
- Date of Issue
- 2010-12
- Publisher
- Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- ARCH , BLCA , BRCA , CANY , CARE , CURE , DINO , GOSP , HOVE , NABR , NCPN , NRSS , TICA , ZION
- Keywords
- Aquatic Studies, Monitoring, NCPN Water Quality Monitoring, Water Quality