Keyword: Water Quality

Temperature-induced iron (III) reduction results in decreased dissolved organic carbon export in subalpine wetland soils, Colorado, USA

Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters have rapidly increased across Europe and North America over the past few decades. The causes for such trends have yet to be fully understood, although several factors including elevated temperatures and decreased atmospheric deposition of acid, nitrogen and sulfur, are considered responsible for the release of carbon from soils into streams.

Lasting effects of wildfire on disinfection by-product formation in forest catchments

Severe wildfires often have dramatic short-term effects on water quality, although there is increasing evidence that in some catchments their effects can persist for many years. Forest recovery after the 2002 Hayman Fire burned catchments that supply drinking water to over a half million users in Denver, CO, has been extremely slow and has caused persistent water quality concerns.

Bioenergy-related water quality issues

Water quality is a measurement of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water against certain standards that can be ecological or specifically related to human needs. The production of bioenergy feedstocks and their conversion to solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels for heating, power and transport can drastically affect water quality in aquatic ecosystems, with impacts on biodiversity and human health.

Performance assessment of wood strand erosion control materials among varying slopes, soil textures, and cover amounts

Two blends of manufactured wood strands with different lengths were tested for effectiveness in controlling erosion. Wood strand blends were tested on two soils, two slopes, and at three coverage amounts. Laboratory rainfall simulations were conducted to evaluate runoff and sediment loss. Wood strands were effective in delaying runoff, reducing runoff volume, and reducing sediment loss.

Cattle grazing impact on surface water quality in a Colorado Front Range stream

Cattle grazing in pastures bisected by a small perennial stream in central Colorado had only minor effects on water quality during two years of study. Suspended solids and nitrate nitrogen did not increase significantly, and ammonia nitrogen increased significantly only once under moderate rates of grazing. Indicator bacteria densities in the stream water were significantly higher when at least 150 cattle were grazing.

Stream water quality in a small commercial campground in Colorado

Selected physical, chemical and bacteriological qualities of stream water entering and leaving a campground were examined during the summer of 1978 to investigate the influence of recreational use. Water samples were collected and analyzed at approximately biweekly intervals, and also three times daily before and after the Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekends.

Composite land use impacts on water quality on a diversely developed watershed

The purpose of this study was to assess the composite land use effects on water quality on a diversely developed tributary to the South Platte River in the Colorado Front Range. Data were collected over a two-year period to assess impacts of mountain home development, grazing and lake-based recreation on suspended solids, specific conductance, total dissolved solids, nitrate, chloride, fecal coliform and fecal streptococcal bacteria.

Effectiveness of forestry related best management practices in the Trout Creek watershed, Colorado

In multiuse forests the majority of nonpoint source pollution is typically sediment. Best management practices (BMPs) are implemented to reduce or prevent this pollutant, however little research has been done to quantify the effectiveness of individual types of BMPs.