pubs.usgs.gov · 2002-11-14 · PREFACE This volume of the annual hydrologic data report of Colorado is one of a series of annual reports that document hydrologic data gathered from

Water Resources DataColoradoWater Year 1998

Water-Data Report CO–98–2

Volume 2. Colorado River Basin

By R.M. Crowfoot, N.L. Bruce, J.W. Unruh, J.T. Steinheimer,

Prepared in cooperation with the State of Coloradoand with other agencies

G.F. Ritz, M.E. Smith, R.A. Jenkins, and G.B. O'Neill

http://co.water.usgs.gov

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Charles G. Groat, Director

For information on the water program in Colorado contact:

District Chief, Water Resources DivisionU.S. Geological Survey

Box 25046, Mail Stop 415Denver Federal CenterLakewood, CO 80225

(303) 236-4882

http://webserver.cr.usgs.gov

1999

PREFACE

This volume of the annual hydrologic data report of Colorado is one of a series of annual reports that documenthydrologic data gathered from the U. S. Geological Survey's surface- and ground-water data-collection networks in eachstate, Puerto Rico, and the Trust Territories. These records of streamflow, ground-water levels, and quality of water providethe hydrologic information needed by State, local, and Federal agencies, and the private sector for developing andmanaging our Nation's land and water resources. Hydrologic data for Colorado are contained in two volumes:

Volume 1. Missouri River, Arkansas River, and Rio Grande basins in Colorado,

Volume 2. Colorado River basin.

This report is the culmination of a concerted effort by dedicated personnel of the U. S. Geological Survey who collected,compiled, analyzed, verified, and organized the data, and who typed, edited, and assembled the report. In addition to theauthors, who had primary responsibility for assuring that the information contained herein is accurate, complete, andadheres to Geological Survey policy and established guidelines, the following individuals contributed significantly to thecollection, processing, and tabulation of the data:

S. P. AndersJ. D. BennettB. W. BouleyR. W. BoulgerR. J. BrandleK. N. ButcherR. G. CarverJ. A. CollinsJ. R. DunganC. M. DysterR. L. Einarsen

J. B. EvansJ. S. FerareseJ. B. FosterM. A. GressD. W. GreyD. M. HartleM. J. HernandezK. J. LeibJ. D. MartinezJ. M. McCormackD. A. Miller

S. V. MuroR. M. NeamK. G. PettyS. A. RaffertyR. L. ReedD. G. ShubertG. J. SmithD. E. SmitsP. A. SolbergJ. R. SullivanC. H. Thompson

L. A. WalshJ. WaltersM. E. WhitemanK. R. Wilke

This report was prepared in cooperation with the State of Colorado and with other agencies under the generalsupervision of W. F. Horak, District Chief, Colorado.

III

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of thiscollection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 JeffersonDavis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

April 1999 Annual--Oct. 1, 1997 to Sept. 30, 1998

Water Resources Data for Colorado, Water Year 1998Volume 2. Colorado River basin

R.M. Crowfoot, N.L. Bruce, J.W. Unruh, J.T. Steinheimer, G.F. Ritz,M.E. Smith, R.A. Jenkins, and G.B. O’Neill

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources DivisionBox 25046, Mail Stop 415Denver Federal CenterLakewood, CO 80225

USGS-WDR-CO-98-2

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources DivisionBox 25046, Mail Stop 415Denver Federal CenterLakewood, CO 80225

USGS-WDR-CO-98-2

Prepared in cooperation with the State of Colorado and other agencies.

No restriction on distribution, this report may be purchased from: National Tech-nical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161

Water-resources data for Colorado for the 1998 water year consist of records of stage, discharge, and water qualityof streams; stage, contents, and water-quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of wells andsprings. This report (Volumes 1 and 2) contains discharge records for 316 gaging stations, stage and contents of 26lakes and reservoirs, discharge measurements for 1 partial-record low-flow station and 1 miscellaneous site, peakflow information for 29 crest-stage partial-record stations; water-quality for 118 gaging stations and for 8 lakes andreservoirs, supplemental water-quality for 192 gaged sites; water-quality for 72 miscellaneous sites and 14 observa-tion wells; water levels for 3 observation wells, and meteorological data for 25 sites. Seven pertinent stations oper-ated by bordering states also are included in this report. The records were collected and computed by the WaterResources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of W.F. Horak, District Chief. These datarepresent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating Stateand Federal agencies.

*Colorado, *Hydrologic data, *Surface water, *Ground water, *Water quality; Flowrate, Gaging stations, Lakes, Reservoirs, Chemical analyses, Sediment, Water temper-atures, Sampling sites, Water analyses

569

unclassified unclassified

CONTENTS________

Page

Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... IIIList of surface-water stations, in downstream order, for which records are published in this volume ........................................................... VIIIntroduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1Cooperation.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4Overview of Hydrologic Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Precipitation ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5Streamflow.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5Chemical quality of streamflow ........................................................................................................................................................... 10

Special networks and programs..................................................................................................................................................................... 12Explanation of the records ............................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Station identification numbers............................................................................................................................................................. 12Downstream order system....................................................................................................................................................... 13Latitude-longitude system........................................................................................................................................................ 13System for numbering wells, springs, and miscellaneous sites............................................................................................... 13

Records of stage and water discharge ............................................................................................................................................... 14Data collection and computation.............................................................................................................................................. 14Data presentation .................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Station manuscript........................................................................................................................................................ 15Data table of daily mean values ................................................................................................................................... 16Statistics of monthly mean data.................................................................................................................................... 16Summary statistics ....................................................................................................................................................... 16

Identifying estimated daily discharge....................................................................................................................................... 17Accuracy of the records ........................................................................................................................................................... 17Other records available............................................................................................................................................................ 18

Records of surface-water quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 18Accuracy of the records ........................................................................................................................................................... 18Classification of records........................................................................................................................................................... 18Arrangement of records ........................................................................................................................................................... 18Onsite measurement and sample collection............................................................................................................................ 19Water temperature................................................................................................................................................................... 19Sediment.................................................................................................................................................................................. 19Laboratory measurements....................................................................................................................................................... 20Data presentation .................................................................................................................................................................... 20Remark codes.......................................................................................................................................................................... 20

Records of ground-water quality ......................................................................................................................................................... 20Data collection and computation.............................................................................................................................................. 21Data presentation .................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Access to USGS water data........................................................................................................................................................................... 21Definition of terms .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 22Selected references ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 29List of discontinued surface-water discharge or stage only stations .............................................................................................................. 31List of discontinued surface-water-quality stations......................................................................................................................................... 40Publications on techniques of water-resources investigations....................................................................................................................... 43Station records, surface-water ....................................................................................................................................................................... 47

Transmountain diversions from Colorado River basin in Colorado..................................................................................................... 475Discharge at partial-record stations and miscellaneous sites ........................................................................................................................ 477

Low-flow partial-record stations .......................................................................................................................................................... 477Crest-stage partial-record stations...................................................................................................................................................... 478

Meteorological data at miscellaneous sites.................................................................................................................................................... 479Supplemental water-quality data for gaging stations ..................................................................................................................................... 509Station records, ground-water levels.............................................................................................................................................................. 529Miscellaneous water-quality data ................................................................................................................................................................... 531 Upper Gunnison River water-quality study............................................................................................................................................ 531 Urban Synoptic Sampling (NAWQA)..................................................................................................................................................... 542 Agricultural Synoptic Sampling (NAWQA)............................................................................................................................................ 551Index .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 565

V

VI CONTENTS--Continued

ILLUSTRATIONS Page

Figure 1-2. Map showing:1. Locations of lake and surface-water stations and surface-water-quality stations in Colorado................................................. 22. Locations of crest-stage partial-record stations in Colorado .................................................................................................... 3

3. Comparison of monthly precipitation for water year 1998 to normal monthly precipitation for the reference period 1961-90 ........... 64. Comparison of monthly mean discharges for water year 1998 to mean monthly discharges of the reference periods indicated

on the individual graphs..................................................................................................................................................................... 85. Comparison of range and distribution of specific conductance measured during water year

1998 to long-term values ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

TABLES

1. Precipitation during water year 1998 and departures-from-normal precipitation (1961-90), in inches...................................................... 52. Peak discharges for water year 1998 and for the period of record at selected gaging stations................................................................ 73. Results of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum tests comparing mean specific conductance of discharge for water year 1998

with mean for the reference period at selected gaging stations ............................................................................................................... 10

CONTENTS VI

SURFACE-WATER STATIONS, IN DOWNSTREAM ORDER, FOR WHICH RECORDS ARE PUBLISHED IN VII THIS VOLUME

NOTE.--Data for partial-record stations and miscellaneous sites for both surface-water discharge and quality are published in separate sections of the data report.

(Letter after station name designates type and frequency of published data. Daily tables: (D) discharge, (C) specific conductance, (S) sediment,(T) temperature, (E) elevation or contents, (O) dissolved oxygen, (P) pH, (R) precipitation.

Periodic tables: (c) chemical, (b) biological, (e) elevation or contents, (m) microbiological, (s) sediment, (t) temperature.)

Station Pagenumber

COLORADO RIVER BASINColorado River:Colorado River below Baker Gulch, near Grand Lake (DTcst)..................................................................................09010500 47

GRAND LAKE OUTLET BASINNorth Inlet (head of Grand Lake Outlet):Grand Lake:

Alva B. Adams tunnel at east portal, near Estes Park (Dct) ....................................................................09013000 53Shadow Mountain Lake near Grand Lake (etcbm) ...................................................................................................09014500 56

Granby Pump Canal near Grand Lake (tc) ...................................................................................................09018300 59Lake Granby near Granby (etcbm) ...........................................................................................................................09018500 61Lake Granby (west) near Granby (tcbm)...................................................................................................................400844105530800 65Colorado River near Granby (D) ...............................................................................................................................09019500 68

WILLOW CREEK BASINWillow Creek Reservoir near Granby (e) ......................................................................................................09020700 69

FRASER RIVER BASINFraser River at upper station, near Winter Park (Dtc)...................................................................................09022000 70Fraser River below Buck Creek at Winter Park (tc) ......................................................................................09023750 72Fraser River at Winter Park (D) ....................................................................................................................09024000 73

Vasquez Creek at Winter Park (D) ..........................................................................................................09025000 74Fraser River below Vasquez Creek at Winter Park (tc) ................................................................................09025010 75

Elk Creek at upper station near Fraser (D)..............................................................................................09025300 76St. Louis Creek near Fraser (D) ..............................................................................................................09026500 77

Fraser River at Tabernash (tc) ......................................................................................................................09027100 78Ranch Creek near Fraser (Dtcm) ............................................................................................................09032000 79Cabin Creek near Fraser (D) ...................................................................................................................09032100 81Meadow Creek at mouth near Tabernash (D) .........................................................................................400016105490800 82Ranch Creek below Meadow Creek near Tabernash (Dctm) ..................................................................09033100 83Crooked Creek below Tipperary Creek near Tabernash (tcm) ................................................................395634105532401 85Pole Creek at upper station near Tabernash (tcm)..................................................................................395901105550800 86Pole Creek at mouth near Tabernash (tcm).............................................................................................395930105510700 87

Colorado River at Windy Gap, near Granby (Dct).....................................................................................................09034250 88

WILLIAMS FORK BASINBobtail Creek (head of Williams Fork) near Jones Pass (D).........................................................................09034900 91Williams Fork below Steelman Creek (D) .....................................................................................................09035500 92Williams Fork above Darling Creek, near Leal (D)........................................................................................09035700 93

Darling Creek near Leal (D).....................................................................................................................09035800 94South Fork Williams Fork near Leal (D) ..................................................................................................09035900 95

Williams Fork near Leal (D) ..........................................................................................................................09036000 96Williams Fork near Parshall (D) ....................................................................................................................09037500 97Williams Fork Reservoir near Parshall (e) ....................................................................................................09038000 98Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir (D) .........................................................................................09038500 99

MUDDY CREEK BASINMuddy Creek near Kremmling (D) ................................................................................................................09041000 100Muddy Creek above Antelope Creek near Kremmling (DstcCT) ..................................................................09041090 101Wolford Mountain Reservoir at Inflow near Kremmling (ct) ..........................................................................401110106244800 109Wolford Mountain Reservoir at Midlake near Kremmling (ctmb) ..................................................................400841106240600 111Alkali Slough #2 at Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling (ct) ..........................................................400812106254800 114Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling (ctmbe)..................................................................................09041395 116Muddy Creek below Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling (DctCTO)..............................................09041400 120

BLUE RIVER BASINMonte Cristo Creek (head of Blue River):

Monte Cristo diversion near Hoosier Pass (D) ........................................................................................09041900 129Hoosier Creek:

Bemrose-Hoosier diversion near Hoosier Pass (D)............................................................................09044300 130Blue River:

McCullough Creek:McCullough-Spruce-Crystal diversion near Hoosier Pass (D)............................................................09044800 131

Blue River at Blue River (D)..........................................................................................................................09046490 132French Gulch at Breckenridge (DTcts) ....................................................................................................09046530 133

Blue River near Dillon (D) .............................................................................................................................09046600 140Snake River near Montezuma (D) ...........................................................................................................09047500 141

Keystone Gulch near Dillon (D) ..........................................................................................................09047700 142Tenmile Creek below North Tenmile Creek, at Frisco (D)........................................................................09050100 143

Blue River below Dillon (D) ...........................................................................................................................09050700 144Straight Creek below Laskey Gulch, near Dillon (D) ...............................................................................09051050 145

Reservoirs in Blue River basin:Dillon Reservoir (e) .......................................................................................................................................09050600 146Green Mountain Reservoir (e) ......................................................................................................................09057000 146

VIII SURFACE-WATER STATIONS, IN DOWNSTREAM ORDER, FOR WHICH RECORDS ARE PUBLISHED IN THIS VOLUME

Station Pagenumber

Colorado River--Continued

BLUE RIVER BASIN--ContinuedBlue River below Green Mountain Reservoir (DCT)................................................................................09057500 147

Colorado River near Kremmling (Dctm) ....................................................................................................................09058000 152

PINEY RIVER BASINPiney River below Piney Lake, near Minturn (D) ..........................................................................................09058500 155

Dickson Creek near Vail (D) ....................................................................................................................09058610 156Freeman Creek near Minturn (D)........................................................................................................09058700 157

East Meadow Creek near Minturn (D) .....................................................................................................09058800 158Piney River near State Bridge (D).................................................................................................................09059500 159

ROCK CREEK BASINRock Creek at Crater (D) ..............................................................................................................................09060550 160

EAGLE RIVER BASINEast Fork Eagle River near Red Cliff (tcm)...................................................................................................392511106164000 161Eagle River at Red Cliff (Dctm).....................................................................................................................09063000 163

Turkey Creek:Wearyman Creek near Red Cliff (D) ...................................................................................................09063200 166

Turkey Creek near Red Cliff (D) ..............................................................................................................09063400 167Homestake Creek:

Missouri Creek near Gold Park (D).....................................................................................................09063900 168Homestake Creek at Gold Park (D).........................................................................................................09064000 169Homestake Creek near Red Cliff (D).......................................................................................................09064500 170

Eagle River near Minturn (D) ........................................................................................................................09064600 171Cross Creek near Minturn (D) .................................................................................................................09065100 172Gore Creek at upper station, near Minturn (D) ........................................................................................09065500 173

Black Gore Creek near Minturn (D) ....................................................................................................09066000 174Bighorn Creek near Minturn (D)..........................................................................................................09066100 175Pitkin Creek near Minturn (D) .............................................................................................................09066150 176Booth Creek near Minturn (D).............................................................................................................09066200 177Middle Creek near Minturn (D) ...........................................................................................................09066300 178

Gore Creek at lower station, at Vail (D) ...................................................................................................09066310 179Red Sandstone Creek near Minturn (D) .............................................................................................09066400 180

Gore Creek at mouth near Minturn (DTcts) .............................................................................................09066510 181Beaver Creek at Avon (D) .......................................................................................................................09067000 187

Eagle River at Avon (Dctm) ..........................................................................................................................09067005 188Lake Creek near Edwards (D) .................................................................................................................09067200 191

Eagle River at Gypsum (ctm)........................................................................................................................09069000 192Eagle River below Gypsum (D).....................................................................................................................09070000 194

Colorado River near Dotsero (DTcts) ........................................................................................................................09070500 195Colorado River above Glenwood Springs (ctTC) ......................................................................................................09071750 201

ROARING FORK RIVER BASINRoaring Fork River above Difficult Creek near Aspen (Dctm) ......................................................................09073300 205Roaring Fork River near Aspen (D) ..............................................................................................................09073400 208

Hunter Creek near Aspen (D)..................................................................................................................09074000 209Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt (e) ..............................................................................................................09080190 210Fryingpan River near Ruedi (D)...............................................................................................................09080400 211

Roaring Fork River near Emma (Dtcms).......................................................................................................09081000 212Crystal River above Avalanche Creek, near Redstone (Dctm) ...............................................................09081600 215

Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs (Dtcm)..........................................................................................09085000 218Colorado River below Glenwood Springs (D) ...........................................................................................................09085100 221

DIVIDE CREEK BASINWest Divide Creek (head of Divide Creek) near Raven (D)..........................................................................09089500 222

ROAN CREEK BASINDry Fork at upper station, near De Beque (DTcts)........................................................................................09095300 223

Colorado River near Cameo (DctsCT) ......................................................................................................................09095500 228

PLATEAU CREEK RIVER BASINPlateau Creek near Cameo (DTCtcm)..........................................................................................................09105000 235

Colorado River below Grand Valley Diversion near Palisade (D) .............................................................................09106150 240

GUNNISON RIVER BASINTaylor River (head of Gunnison River):Taylor River at Taylor Park (D) ......................................................................................................................09107000 241

CONTENTS VIII

SURFACE-WATER STATIONS, IN DOWNSTREAM ORDER, FOR WHICH RECORDS ARE PUBLISHED IN IX THIS VOLUME

Station Pagenumber


GUNNISON RIVER BASIN--ContinuedTaylor Park Reservoir at Taylor Park (e) .......................................................................................................09108500 242Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir (D) ...............................................................................................09109000 243Taylor River at Almont (Dtcm) .......................................................................................................................09110000 244

Slate River near Crested Butte (Dtcm) ...............................................................................................09111500 246East River below Cement Creek near Crested Butte (Dtcms).................................................................09112200 248East River at Almont (Dctms) ..................................................................................................................09112500 255Castle Creek above Mouth near Baldwin (D) ..........................................................................................09113100 258

Gunnison River near Gunnison (Dctms) .......................................................................................................09114500 259Tomichi Creek at Sargents (D) ................................................................................................................09115500 262

Cochetopa Creek below Rock Creek, near Parlin (D) ........................................................................09118450 263Tomichi Creek at Gunnison (Dctms)........................................................................................................09119000 264Gunnison River at County Road 32 below Gunnison (Tctsm) .................................................................383103106594200 267Lake Fork at Gateview (D).......................................................................................................................09124500 272Silver Jack Reservoir near Cimarron (e) .................................................................................................09125800 273Cimarron River near Cimarron (D) ..........................................................................................................09126000 274

Gunnison River below Gunnison tunnel (DTcts) ...........................................................................................09128000 275Paonia Reservoir near Bardine (e) ..........................................................................................................09131495 281East Muddy Creek (head of North Fork Gunnison River):North Fork Gunnison River near Somerset (D) .......................................................................................09132500 282

Minnesota Creek near Paonia (D) ......................................................................................................09134000 283North Fork Gunnison RIver below Leroux Creek, near Hotchkiss (D) ................................................09135950 284

Tongue Creek:Surface Creek near Cedaredge (D)....................................................................................................09143000 285Surface Creek at Cedaredge (D) ........................................................................................................09143500 286

Gunnison River at Delta (D)..........................................................................................................................09144250 287Uncompahgre River near Ridgway (DTcts) .............................................................................................09146200 288

Dallas Creek near Ridgway (D) ..........................................................................................................09147000 295Ridgway Reservoir near Ridgway (e) ......................................................................................................09147022 296Uncompahgre River below Ridgway Reservoir (D) .................................................................................09147025 297Uncompahgre River at Colona (D) ..........................................................................................................09147500 298

Dry Creek at Begonia Road, near Delta (DctsT) ................................................................................09149480 299Uncompahgre River at Delta (D) .............................................................................................................09149500 304

Gunnison River near Grand Junction (DctsCT) ............................................................................................09152500 305

REED WASH BASINReed Wash near Mack (DctsT).....................................................................................................................09153290 312

Colorado River near Colorado-Utah State line (DctsCT) ..........................................................................................09163500 318

DOLORES RIVER BASINDolores River at Dolores (D).........................................................................................................................09166500 325

Lost Canyon Creek near Dolores (D) ......................................................................................................09166950 326Dolores River near Slick Rock (D) ................................................................................................................09168730 327Dolores River at Bedrock (DCTct).................................................................................................................09169500 328

West Paradox Creek above Bedrock (tc) ................................................................................................09170800 333Dolores River near Bedrock (DctCT) ............................................................................................................09171100 334

San Miguel River near Placerville (D)......................................................................................................09172500 339San Miguel River at Brooks Bridge, near Nucla (D) ................................................................................09174600 340San Miguel River at Uravan (D)...............................................................................................................09177000 341

GREEN RIVER BASINYampa River:Yampa River above Stagecoach Reservoir (D).......................................................................................09237450 342Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir (D) .......................................................................................09237500 343

Fish Creek at upper station, near Steamboat Springs (D)..................................................................09238900 344Yampa River at Steamboat Springs (Dctm).............................................................................................09239500 345

Elk River above Clark (D) ...................................................................................................................09240900 348Elk River at Clark (D) ..........................................................................................................................09241000 349Elk River near Milner (D) ....................................................................................................................09242500 350Trout Creek:

Middle Creek near Oak Creek (D).................................................................................................09243700 351Foidel Creek near Oak Creek (D) .............................................................................................09243800 352Foidel Creek at mouth, near Oak Creek (D) .............................................................................09243900 353

Elkhead Creek above Long Gulch, near Hayden (DctsCT) ................................................................09246200 354Elkhead Reservoir:Elkhead Reservoir Site 1A (ct)............................................................................................................403507107214900 361Elkhead Reservoir Site 1B (ctb)..........................................................................................................403506107214500 361Elkhead Reservoir Site 2A (ct)............................................................................................................403439107223800 362Elkhead Reservoir Site 2B (ctb)..........................................................................................................403437107223300 363Elkhead Reservoir Site 2C (ct) ...........................................................................................................403435107222900 364Elkhead Reservoir Site 3A (ct)............................................................................................................403336107230700 365Elkhead Reservoir Site 3B (ctb)..........................................................................................................403333107230100 366Elkhead Reservoir Site 3C (ct) ...........................................................................................................403331107225500 368Elkhead Creek below Maynard Gulch, near Craig (DctsCT) ..............................................................09246400 369

Yampa River below Craig (Dctm) ............................................................................................................09247600 376Williams Fork River at mouth, near Hamilton (D) ...............................................................................09249750 379

X SURFACE-WATER STATIONS, IN DOWNSTREAM ORDER, FOR WHICH RECORDS ARE PUBLISHED IN THIS VOLUME

Station Pagenumber


GREEN RIVER BASIN--ContinuedYampa River near Maybell (DctCT) ........................................................................................................ 09251000 380Yampa River above Little Snake River, near Maybell (Ds) ..................................................................... 09251100 386

Little Snake River near Slater (D) ...................................................................................................... 09253000 388Slater Fork near Slater (D)............................................................................................................ 09255000 389

Little Snake River below Baggs, WY (cts).......................................................................................... 09259050 390Little Snake River near Lily (Dst)........................................................................................................ 09260000 391

Yampa RIver at Deerlodge Park (Dtcsm)................................................................................................ 09260050 393North Fork White River at Buford (Dctms) .............................................................................................. 09303000 397South Fork White River at Buford (ctms) ................................................................................................ 09304000 400

White River above Dry Creek near Meeker (ctms) ...................................................................................... 395650107435600 401White River above Coal Creek near Meeker (Dctms) .................................................................................. 09304200 403White River near Meeker (D) ....................................................................................................................... 09304500 406White River below Meeker (Dctms).............................................................................................................. 09304800 407

Piceance Creek below Rio Blanco (Dtcs) ............................................................................................... 09306007 410Stewart Gulch above West Fork, near Rio Blanco (tcs)..................................................................... 09306022 413Willow Creek near Rio Blanco (tcs).................................................................................................... 09306058 415

Piceance Creek below Ryan Gulch, near Rio Blanco (DtcsCT) ............................................................. 09306200 417Piceance Creek at White River (Dtcs) .................................................................................................... 09306222 423Yellow Creek:

Corral Gulch near Rangely (Dtcs) ...................................................................................................... 09306242 426Yellow Creek near White River (Dcts)..................................................................................................... 09306255 429

White River below Boise Creek, near Rangely (Dctms)............................................................................... 09306290 432White River below Taylor Draw Reservoir, above Rangely (ctms) ............................................................... 09306305 435

SAN JUAN RIVER BASINWest Fork San Juan River at West Fork Campground, near Pagosa Springs (D) ................................. 09340800 437Wolf Creek at Wolf Creek Campground, near Pagosa Springs (D) ........................................................ 09341300 438West Fork San Juan River near Pagosa Springs (D) ............................................................................. 09341500 439

San Juan River at Pagosa Springs (D) ........................................................................................................ 09342500 440Rio Blanco below Blanco diversion dam, near Pagosa Springs (D) ....................................................... 09343300 441Navajo River below Oso diversion dam, near Chromo (D)..................................................................... 09344400 442

San Juan River near Carracas (D)............................................................................................................... 09346400 443Piedra River near Arboles (D)................................................................................................................. 09349800 444Los Pinos River:

Vallecito Creek near Bayfield (D) ....................................................................................................... 09352900 445Vallecito Reservoir near Bayfield (e) .................................................................................................. 09353000 446

Los Pinos River at La Boca (D) .............................................................................................................. 09354500 447Spring Creek at La Boca (D) .............................................................................................................. 09355000 448

Animas River at Silverton (D) ................................................................................................................. 09358000 449Cement Creek at Silverton (D) ........................................................................................................... 09358550 450Mineral Creek at Silverton (D)............................................................................................................ 09359010 451

Animas River below Silverton (Dtc) ........................................................................................................ 09359020 452Animas River at Durango (D).................................................................................................................. 09361500 455

Wilson Gulch near Durango (D) ......................................................................................................... 09362550 456Lemon Reservoir near Durango (e) ................................................................................................... 09362800 457

Animas River near Cedar Hill, NM (D).................................................................................................... 09363500 458La Plata River at Hesperus (D)............................................................................................................... 09365500 459La Plata River at Colorado-New Mexico State line (D)........................................................................... 09366500 460Mancos River near Towaoc (D) .............................................................................................................. 09371000 461

San Juan River at Four Corners (D) ............................................................................................................ 09371010 462McElmo Creek:

Mud Creek at Highway 32, near Cortez (DctCT) ............................................................................... 09371492 463McElmo Creek above Trail Canyon, near Cortez (DctCT)...................................................................... 09371520 468McElmo Creek near Colorado-Utah State line (Dct) ............................................................................... 09372000 473

WATER RESOURCES DATA - COLORADO, 1998 1

VOLUME 2: COLORADO RIVER BASIN

___________________________

By R.M. Crowfoot, N.L. Bruce, J.W. Unruh, J.T. Steinheimer, G.F. Ritz, M.E. Smith, R.A. Jenkins, and G.B. O’Neill

___________________________

INTRODUCTION

The Water-Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with State agencies, obtains a large amount ofdata pertaining to the water resources of Colorado each water year. These data, accumulated during many water years, constitutea valuable data base for developing an improved understanding of the water resources of the State. To make these data readilyavailable to interested parties outside the Geological Survey, the data are published annually in the report series entitled "WaterResources Data - Colorado".

This report (Volume 2 of two volumes) includes records on both surface and ground water in the State, west of the ContinentalDivide. Specifically, it contains: (1) discharge records for 169 surface-water stations, and peak discharge data for 1 partial-recordsurface-water station and discharge-measurement data for 1 low-flow partial-record site; (2) stage and contents for 14 lakes andreservoirs; (3) surface-water-quality data for 68 surface-water stations, 4 reservoirs, 64 miscellaneous sites, and miscellaneoussurface-water-quality data for 109 gaged sites; and (4) ground-water level records for 2 sites, and meteorological data for 10 sites.Locations of lake and surface-water-gaging stations and surface-water-quality stations are shown in figure 1, locations of crest-stage partial-record stations are shown in figure 2. Three pertinent stations operated by bordering States also are included in thisreport. The data in this report represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey andcooperating State and Federal agencies in Colorado.

Prior to introduction of this series and for several water years concurrent with it, water-resources data for Colorado werepublished in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers. Data on stream discharge and stage and on lake or reservoir contentsand stage, through September 1960, were published annually under the title "Surface-water Supply of the United States," Parts 6B,7, 8, and 9. For the 1961 through 1970 water years, the data were published in two 5-year reports. Data on chemical quality,temperature, and suspended sediment for the 1941 through 1970 water years were published annually under the title "Quality ofSurface Waters of the United States." Data on ground-water levels for the 1935 through 1955 water years were published annuallyunder the title "Water Levels and Artesian Pressures in Observation Wells in the United States." For the 1956 through 1974 wateryears the data were published in four 5-year reports under the title "Ground-Water Levels in the United States." Water-supplypapers may be purchased from the, U.S. Geological Survey, Books and Open-File Reports, Federal Center, Building 810, Box25425, Denver, CO 80225.

For water years 1961 through 1970, streamflow data were released by the Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis.Water-quality records for water years 1964 through 1970 were similarly released either in separate reports or in conjunction withstreamflow records.

Publications similar to this report are published annually by the Geological Survey for all States. These official Survey reportscarry an identification number consisting of the two-letter State abbreviation, the last two digits of the water year, and the volumenumber. For example, this volume is identified as "U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report CO-98-2." For archiving and generaldistribution, the reports for 1971-74 water years also are identified as water-data reports. These water-data reports are for sale, inpaper copy or in micro-fiche, by the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.

Additional information, including current prices, for ordering specific reports may be obtained from the District office at theaddress given on the back of the title page or by telephone (303) 236-4882.

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Figure 1.--Map showing locations of lake and surface-water stations and surface-water-quality stations in Colorado.

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3 Figure 2.--Map showing locations of crest-stage partial-record stations in Colorado.

4 WATER RESOURCES DATA - COLORADO, 1998

COOPERATION

The U.S. Geological Survey and organizations in the State of Colorado have had cooperative agreements for the systematic collectionof surface-water records since 1895 and for water-quality records since 1941. Organizations that supported data-collection activitiesthrough cooperative agreements with the Survey during the 1998 water year are:

Arapahoe County, Water and Wastewater Authority.Arkansas River Compact Administration.Centennial Water and Sanitation District.Cherokee Metropolitan District.City and County of Denver, Board of Water Commissioners.City of Aurora.City of Black Hawk.City of Boulder.City of Broomfield.City of Colorado Springs.City of Englewood.City of Fort Collins.City of Glendale.City of Golden.City of Gunnison.City of Idaho Springs.City of Lakewood.City of Longmont.City of Louisville.City of Loveland.City of Pueblo.City of Westminster.Clear Creek Board of County Commissioners.Colorado City Metropolitan District.Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.Colorado Department of Transportation.Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.Colorado Division of Water Resources.Colorado Division of Wildlife.Colorado River Water Conservation District.Colorado Springs Department of Public Utilities.Crested Butte South Metropolitan District.Delta County Board of County Commissioners.Dolores Water Conservancy District.Eagle County Board of Commissioners.Eagle River Water and Sanitation District.East Grand County Water-Quality Board.Evergreen Metropolitan District.Fountain Valley Authority.Gilpin County.Gunnison County.La Plata County.Lower Fountain Water-Quality Management Association.Meeker Sanitation District.Metro Wastewater Reclamation District.Moffat County.Mount Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District.Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.Park County.Pueblo Board of Water Works.Pueblo West Metro Water District.Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners.Rio Grande Water Conservation District.Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District.Southern Ute Indian Tribe.Southwestern Colorado Water Conservation District.St. Charles Mesa Water District.Summit County.Teller - Park Soil Conservation District.Town of Basalt.Town of Breckenridge.Town of Crested Butte.Town of Empire.Town of Hotchkiss.Town of Meeker.Town of Rangely.Town of Vail.Trinchera Water Conservancy District.Upper Arkansas River Water Conservancy District.Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority.Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District.Upper South Platte Water Conservancy District.Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District.Urban Drainage and Flood Control District.Yellowjacket Water Conservancy District.

Financial assistance was also provided by the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers; U.S. Army; Bureau of Land Management; Bureau ofReclamation; National Park Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Organizations that supplied data are acknowledged in station descriptions.


OVERVIEW OF HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS[West of the Continental Divide]

Prepared by M.E. Smith and G.F. Ritz

Precipitation

Precipitation data for water year 1998 were obtained from published reports of the U.S. Department of Commerce,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center, for the National Weather Service division inColorado that is west of the Continental Divide (table 1). Precipitation and departures-from-normal precipitation (1961-90) arelisted for the first 6 months (October-March) of the water year when precipitation is predominately snow and for the remaining6 months (April-September) when precipitation is predominately rain. Also listed are the precipitation and departure-from-normal precipitation for the entire water year.

During October-March, precipitation was 5 percent less than normal for the Colorado Drainage Basin. During April-September, precipitation was 16 percent less than normal for the basin.

Graphs of monthly precipitation for the water year and for normal monthly precipitation at selected weather stations areshown in figure 3. Monthly precipitation data for water year 1998 were supplemented with ancillary information obtained fromthe Colorado State University, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado Climate Center, in Fort Collins.

Streamflow

Monthly mean discharges during water year 1998 at selected streamflow-gaging stations are compared to long-term(reference period through previous water year) mean monthly discharges in figure 4. Individual graphs show the variedstreamflow west of the Continental Divide during the water year. Streamflows during water year 1998 were not unusuallyhigher or lower than long-term mean streamflows and the graphs indicate that monthly mean discharges during the water yearhad general temporal trends similar to the long-term mean monthly discharges. Annual mean discharges for 1998 ranged from15 percent less than the long-term mean (gaging station 09114500, Gunnison River near Gunnison) to 38 percent greater thanthe long-term mean (gaging station 09304500, White River near Meeker). For water year 1998, the graphs indicate that thehighest monthly mean discharges occurred in May or June at all selected gaging stations, which is consistent with the long-term trends at these sites.

For May and June 1998, the 2-month mean discharge was 27 percent less than the long-term, mean 2-month discharge atgaging station 09070000, Eagle River below Gypsum; 24 percent less at gaging station 09114500, Gunnison River nearGunnison; 4 percent less at gaging station 09163500, Colorado River near Colorado-Utah State line; by 4 percent less atgaging station 09172500, San Miguel River near Placerville; 15 percent greater at gaging station 09251000, Yampa River nearMaybell; by 32 percent greater at gaging station 09304500, White River near Meeker; and 14 percent less at gaging station09361500, Animas River at Durango. Variations of spring 1998 monthly mean discharges from the long-term mean monthlydischarges are attributed to variable snowpack and temperature conditions during the period of snowmelt runoff.

Peak discharges during water year 1998 and for the period of record (through previous water year) for selected gagingstations are listed in table 2. Water year 1998 peak discharges were less than the 25th-percentile value for the period ofrecord at gaging stations 09070000, Eagle River below Gypsum; 09085000, Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs;09114500, Gunnison River near Gunnison; 09149500, Uncompahgre River at Delta; and 09239500, Yampa River at SteamboatSprings. Water year 1998 peak discharges at the other gaging stations listed in table 2 were within the middle 50 percent of thelong-term discharge distribution.

Table 1. Precipitation during water year 1998 and departures-from-normal precipitation (1961–90), in inches

National Weather Servicedivision

October–March April–September Water year 1998

PrecipitationDeparture

from normalPrecipitation

Departurefrom normal

PrecipitationDeparture

from normal

Colorado Drainage Basin 7.40 -0.40 7.00 -1.35 14.40 -1.75

6W

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O N D J F M A M J J A S0

2

4

6


2

4

6Durango Water Resource A


2

4

6Grand Junction WSO AP B O N D J F M A M J J A S

0

2

4

6Hayden C

EXPLANATION

Normal monthly precipitation for reference period

Monthly precipitation for water year 1998

Weather station—Letter refers to accompanying graph and map

B

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Winter Park E

Taylor Park D

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MONTH

MONTH

COLORADO

DRAINAGE

BASIN

PLATTE

DRAINAGE

BASIN

RIOGRANDE

DRAINAGEBASIN

KANSAS

DRAINAGE

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ARKANSAS

DRAINAGE

BASIN

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2

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6

Figure 3.--Comparison of monthly precipitation for water year 1998 to normal monthly precipitation for the reference period 1961–90.


Table 2. Peak discharges for water year 1998 and for the period of record at selected gaging stations

[mi2, square miles; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; WY, water year]

Gaging-station identificationDrainage

area(mi2)

Period ofrecord

(water years)

Water year 1998 Period of recordRemarks on WY 1998

peak dischargeStationnumber

Station name DatePeak

discharge(ft3/s)

DatePeak

discharge(ft3/s)

09034250 Colorado River at WindyGap near Granby

789 1982-97 7/2 1,450 5/25/84 5,260 Less than median

09070000 Eagle River below Gypsum 945 1947-97 6/3 2,680 5/25/84 7,020 Less than 25th percentile

09070500 Colorado River nearDotsero

4,394 1941-97 6/2 7,550 5/25/84 22,200 Greater than 25thpercentile

09085000 Roaring Fork River atGlenwood Springs

1,451 1906-09,1911-97

6/2 5,530 7/1/57 19,000 Less than 25th percentile

09085100 Colorado River belowGlenwood Springs


09095500 Colorado River nearCameo


09114500 Gunnison River nearGunnison

1,012 1911-27,1945-97


09132500 North Fork Gunnison Rivernear Somerset

526 1934-97 5/21 3,380 5/24/84 9,220 Less than median

09149500 Uncompahgre River atDelta

1,115 1903-31,1939-97


09152500 Gunnison River near GrandJunction

7,928 1897-99,1902-6,1917-97

5/22 10,600 5/23/20 35,700 Less than median

09163500 Colorado River nearColorado-Utah State line

17,843 1951-97 5/22 26,100 5/27/84 69,800 Less than median

09166500 Dolores River at Dolores 504 1896-1903,1911-12,1922-97

5/22 3,610 10/5/11 10,000 Greater than median

09171100 Dolores River near Bedrock 2,145 1970-97 5/7 3,940 4/30/73 9,500 Less than median

09239500 Yampa River atSteamboat Springs

604 1904-6,1910-97


09251000 Yampa River near Maybell 3,410 1904-5,1916-97

5/22 10,700 5/17/84 25,100 Greater than median

09304500 White River near Meeker 755 1901-5,1910-97


09346400 San Juan River nearCarracas

1,230 1962-97 5/22 2,790 9/6/70 9,730 Greater than 25th percentile

09361500 Animas River at Durango 692 1912-97 6/3 4,040 10/5/11 25,000 Greater than 25thpercentile


0

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2,000

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Gaging station 09070000,Eagle River belowGypsum

(1947-97)

A Gaging station 09114500,Gunnison River nearGunnison

(1946-97)

B

EXPLANATION

Mean monthly discharge for reference period

Monthly mean discharge for water year 1998

Gaging station—Letter refers to accompanying graph and map

Reference period(1925-97)

H

COLORADO

DRAINAGE

BASIN

PLATTE

DRAINAGE

BASIN

RIOGRANDE

DRAINAGEBASIN

KANSAS

DRAINAGE

BASIN

ARKANSAS

DRAINAGE

BASIN

C O L O R A D O

E

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B

Figure 4.--Comparison of monthly mean discharges for water year 1998 to mean monthly discharges for thereference periods indicated on the individual graphs.


0

20,000

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10,000

15,000

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4,000

6,000

8,000

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0

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2,000D

ISC

HA

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MONTH

Gaging station 09163500,Colorado River nearColorado-Utah State line

(1952-97)

Gaging station 09251000,Yampa River nearMaybell

(1917-97)

E

F

G

Gaging station 09304500,White River near Meeker

(1911-97)

Gaging station 09172500,San Miguel River nearPlacerville

(1943-97)

D

Gaging station 09361500,Animas River at Durango

(1928-97)

Figure 4.--Comparison of monthly mean discharges for water year 1998 to mean monthly discharges for thereference periods indicated on the individual graphs--Continued.


Chemical Quality of Streamflow

To determine if substantial changes occurred during water year 1998 in the chemical quality of streamflow, an analysiswas made of specific conductance measured at gaging stations on four representative streams. Specific conductance can beused to estimate the dissolved-solids concentration in water because specific conductance is directly proportional to theconcentrations of ions in water. Each selected gaging station either is the most downstream station on that stream or isrepresentative of a substantial part of the drainage area of that stream. For each selected gaging station, the distribution ofspecific conductance during water year 1998 is compared to the distribution of specific conductance for the reference period infigure 5.

The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used to determine if there were significant differences between values ofspecific conductance for water year 1998 and values for the reference period (Ott, 1993). This test is a nonparametric counterpartto the common t-test and does not require the data to have a normal distribution.

The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test was applied to the hypothesis that the mean specific conductance for wateryear 1998 was equal to the mean for the reference period. The procedure for testing the hypothesis involves computing a teststatistic from the ranks of the data by using a pooled standard deviation and comparing the test statistic to a value obtainedfrom a table of "Student's" t values (Box and others, 1978). The table value is (1 - alpha/2), where alpha (the level ofsignificance) equals 0.05, at the appropriate degrees of freedom for the number of samples. If the absolute value of thecomputed test statistic (tR) is greater than the tabular t value (ttab), the hypothesis is rejected. A rejection of the hypothesisis statistical evidence that the two means are different. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test results were evaluated atthe 95-percent level.

Results of the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum tests for the four gaging stations are listed in table 3. At gaging station09306290, White River below Boise Creek, near Rangely; and gaging station 09361500, Animas River at Durango; the meanspecific conductance for water year 1998 and the mean specific conductance for the reference period are not statisticallydifferent at the specified level. However, mean specific conductance during water year 1998 was statistically different frommean specific conductance for water years 1988-97 for gaging station 09095500, Colorado River near Cameo; and gagingstation 09152500, Gunnison River near Grand Junction. Specific conductance is inversely related to discharge at each of thesesites. Annual mean discharge for water year 1998 at gaging station 09095500, Colorado River near Cameo, was 15 percentgreater than the mean annual discharge for the reference period (1988-97). Similarly, annual mean discharge at gaging station09152500, Gunnison River near Grand Junction, also was 15 percent greater than the mean annual discharge for the referenceperiod. This increased flow decreased the mean specific conductance with respect to the reference period at these sites.

Table 3. Results of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum tests comparing mean specific conductance of discharge forwater year 1998 with mean for the reference period at selected gaging stations

[Specific conductance, in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; tR, calculated test statistic; ttab, t-values from standard table; A, accepted, R, rejected]

Gaging-station identificationSpecific conductance

Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney ranksum test

Water year 1998 Reference period Periodused

(wateryears)

tR ttabHypoth-

esisStationnumber

Station nameNumberof

valuesMean

Standarddeviation

Numberofvalues

MeanStandarddeviation

09095500 Colorado River nearCameo

30 749 229 378 875 297 1988-97 -2.93 1.96 R

09152500 Gunnison River nearGrand Junction

29 598 180 219 868 315 1988-97 -4.39 1.97 R

09306290 White River belowBoise Creek, nearRangely

13 688 170 131 642 180 1988-97 0.72 1.98 A

09361500 Animas River atDurango

11 403 151 93 438 204 1988-97 -0.47 1.99 A

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11

0

2,000

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500

1,000

1,500

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5 D

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LSIU

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A

1998 1988-97

Gaging station 09095500,Colorado Rivernear Cameo

0

2,500

0

1,000

2,000

SP

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IFIC

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UC

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5 D

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LSIU

S

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1,500

0

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1,000

SP

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IFIC

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,IN

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SIE

ME

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TIM

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5 D

EG

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LSIU

S

0

1,500

0

500

1,000

SP

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UC

TAN

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,IN

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LSIU

S

BGaging station 09152500,Gunnison Rivernear Grand Junction

1998 1988-97

Gaging station 09306290,White Riverbelow Boise Creek, near Rangely

DGaging station 09361500,Animas Riverat Durango

1998 1988-97

1998 1988-97

30

378

29219

13 131

11

93

C

COLORADO

DRAINAGE

BASIN

PLATTE

DRAINAGE

BASIN

RIOGRANDE

DRAINAGEBASIN

KANSAS

DRAINAGE

BASIN

ARKANSAS

DRAINAGE

BASIN

C O L O R A D O

C

AB

D

109 Number of measurementsMaximum75th percentile

MedianMean

25th percentile

Minimum

Box plot Water-quality station—Letter refers to graph and map

BEXPLANATION

Figure 5.--Comparison of range and distribution of specific conductance measured during water year 1998 to long-term values.


SPECIAL NETWORKS AND PROGRAMS

Hydrologic Benchmark Network is a network of 50 sites in small drainage basins around the country whose purpose is to provide consistentdata on the hydrology, including water quality, and related factors in representative undeveloped watersheds nationwide, and to provide analyseson a continuing basis to compare and contrast conditions observed in basins more obviously affected by human activities.

National Stream-Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) monitors the water quality of large rivers within four of the Nation’s largest riverbasins--the Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, and Rio Grande. The network consists of 39 stations. Samples are collected with sufficientfrequency that the flux of a wide range of constituents can be estimated. The objective of NASQAN is to characterize the water quality of theselarge rivers by measuring concentration and mass transport of a wide range of dissolved and suspended constituents, including nutrients, majorions, dissolved and sediment-bound heavy metals, common pesticides, and inorganic and organic forms of carbon. This information will beused (1) to describe the long-term trends and changes in concentration and transport of these constituents; (2) to test findings of the NationalWater-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA); (3) to characterize processes unique to large-river systems such as storage and re-mobilizationof sediments and associated contaminants; and (4) to refine existing estimates of off-continent transport of water, sediment, and chemicals forassessing human effects on the world’s oceans and for determining global cycles of carbon, nutrients, and other chemicals.

The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) provides continuous measurement and assessmentof the chemical climate of precipitation throughout the United States. As the lead Federal agency, the USGS works together with over 100organizations to accomplish the following objectives: (1) Provide a long-term, spatial and temporal record of atmospheric deposition generatedfrom a network of 191 precipitation chemistry monitoring sites. (2) Provide the mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of the significantreduction in SO2 emissions that began in 1995 as implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) occurred. (3) Provide the scientificbasis and nationwide evaluation mechanism for implementation of the Phase II CAAA emission reductions for SO2 and NOx scheduled to beginin 2000.

Data from the network, as well as information about individual sites, are available through the World Wide Web at:

http://nadp.nrel.colostate.edu/NADP

The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the U.S. Geological Survey is a long-term program with goals to describethe status and trends of water-quality conditions for a large, representative part of the Nation’s ground- and surface-water resources; providean improved understanding of the primary natural and human factors affecting these observed conditions and trends; and provide informationthat supports development and evaluation of management, regulatory, and monitoring decisions by other agencies.

Assessment activities are being conducted in 53 study units (major watersheds and aquifer systems) that represent a wide range ofenvironmental settings nationwide and that account for a large percentage of the Nation’s water use. A wide array of chemical constituents willbe measured in ground water, surface water, streambed sediments, and fish tissues. The coordinated application of comparative hydrologicstudies at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales will provide information for decision making by water-resources managers and afoundation for aggregation and comparison of findings to address water-quality issues of regional and national interest.

Communication and coordination between USGS personnel and other local, State, and Federal interests are critical components of theNAWQA Program. Each study unit has a local liaison committee consisting of representatives from key Federal, State, and local waterresources agencies, Indian nations, and universities in the study unit. Liaison committees typically meet semiannually to discuss theirinformation needs, monitoring plans and progress, desired information products, and opportunities to collaborate efforts among the agencies.

Additional information about the NAWQA Program is available through the World Wide Web at:

http://wwwrvares.er.usgs.gov/nawqa/nawqa_home.html

EXPLANATION OF THE RECORDS

The surface-water and ground-water records published in this report are for the 1998 water year that began on October 1, 1997, andended September 30, 1998. A calendar of the water year is provided on the inside of the front cover. The records contain streamflowdata, stage and content data for lakes and reservoirs, ground-water level data, and water-quality data for surface and ground water. Thelocations of the stations where the surface-water data were collected are shown in figures 1 and 2. The following sections of theintroductory text are presented to provide users with a more detailed explanation of how the hydrologic data published in this report werecollected, analyzed, computed, and arranged for presentation.

Station Identification Numbers

Each data station, whether streamsite or well, in this report is assigned a unique identification number. This number is unique in thatit applies specifically to a given station and to no other. The number usually is assigned when a station is first established and is retainedfor that station indefinitely. The systems used by the U.S. Geological Survey to assign identification numbers for surface-water stationsand for ground-water well sites differ, but both are based on geographic location. The "downstream order" system is used for regularsurface-water stations and the "latitude-longitude" system is used for wells and, in Colorado, for surface-water stations where onlyinfrequent measurements are made.


Downstream Order System

Since October 1, 1950, the order of listing hydrologic-station records in Survey reports is in a downstream direction along the mainstream. All stations on a tributary entering upstream from a mainstream station are listed before that station. A station on a tributary thatenters between two mainstream stations is listed between them. A similar order is followed in listing stations on first rank, second rank,and other ranks of tributaries. The rank of any tributary with respect to the stream to which it is immediately tributary is indicated by anindention in the "List of Stations" in the front of this report. Each indention represents one rank. This downstream order and system ofindention show which stations are on tributaries between any two stations and the rank of the tributary on which each station is situated.

The station-identification number is assigned according to downstream order. In assigning station numbers, no distinction is madebetween partial-record stations and other stations; therefore, the station number for a partial-record station indicates downstream-orderposition in a list made up of both types of stations. Gaps are left in the series of numbers to allow for new stations that may be established;hence, the numbers are not consecutive. The complete eight-digit number for each station, such as 06614800, which appears just to theleft of the station name, includes the two-digit Part number "06" plus the six-digit downstream-order number "614800." The Part numberdesignates the major river basin; for example, Part "06" is the Missouri River basin.

Latitude-Longitude System

The identification numbers for wells, springs, and miscellaneous surface-water sites are assigned according to the grid system oflatitude and longitude. The number consists of 15 digits. The first six digits denote the degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude, thenext seven digits denote the degrees, minutes, and seconds of longitude, and the last two digits (assigned sequentially) identify the wellsor other sites within a 1-second grid. This site-identification number, once assigned, is a pure number, and may have no locationalsignificance. In the rare instance where the initial determination of latitude and longitude are found to be in error, the station will retainits initial identification number; however, its true latitude and longitude will be listed in the LOCATION paragraph of the station description.(See figure below).

System for numbering wells, springs, and miscellaneous sites.

The local well number locates a well within a 10-acre tract using the U. S. Bureau of Land Management system of land subdivision.The components of the local well number proceed from the largest to the smallest land subdivisions. This is in contrast to the legaldescription, which proceeds from the smallest to the largest land subdivision. The largest subdivision is the survey. Colorado is governedby three surveys: The Sixth Principal Meridian Survey (S), the New Mexico Survey (N), and the Ute Survey (U). Costilla County was notincluded in any of the

Documents

pubs.usgs.gov · 2002-11-14 · PREFACE This volume of the annual hydrologic data report of Colorado is one of a series of annual reports that document hydrologic data gathered from