NAWQA South Platte River Basin Study Completed
The South Platte River Basin study, conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program, combines information on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream habitat, and aquatic life to provide science-based insights for current and emerging water issues in surface waters (streams, rivers, reservoirs) and groundwaters of the South Platte River Basin. The results can contribute to informed decisions that result in practical and effective water-resource management and strategies that protect and restore water quality.
USGS Circular 1167 summarizes the results of the occurrence and distribution assessment (high-intensity sampling phase) of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program's South Platte River Basin Study Unit investigation (1992 -1995).
Study Area:
Location
The South Platte River Basin has a drainage area of about 24,300 mi2 and is located in parts of three States - Colorado (79 percent of the basin), Nebraska (15 percent of the basin), and Wyoming (6 percent of the basin). The South Platte River originates in the mountains of central Colorado at the Continental Divide and flows about 450 mi northeast across the Great Plains to its confluence with the North Platte River at North Platte, Nebraska. Altitude in the basin ranges from 14,286 ft at Mt. Lincoln on the Continental Divide to 2,750 ft. at the confluence of the South Platte and North Platte Rivers. The basin includes two physiographic provinces - the Front Range Section of the Southern Rocky Mountain Province and the Colorado Piedmont Section of the Great Plains Province.
Climate
The basin has a continental-type climate modified by topography, in which there are large temperature ranges and irregular seasonal and annual precipitation. Mean temperatures increase from west to east and on the plains from north to south. Areas along the Continental Divide average 30 in. or more of precipitation annually, which includes snowfall in excess of 300 in. In contrast, the annual precipitation on the plains east of Denver, Colorado, and in the South Park area in the southwest part of the basin, ranges from 7 to 15 in. Most of the precipitation on the plains occurs as rain, which typically falls between April and September, whereas most of the precipitation in the mountains occurs as snow, which typically falls between October and March.
Land Use
The three-State area of the South Platte River Basin has about 2.8 million people, over 95 percent of who live in Colorado. The basin contains the most concentrated population density in the Rocky Mountain region, located along the Front Range urban corridor in Colorado where the mountains meet the plains. Population densities outside the urban corridor are small and centered in small towns located along the principal streams. The principal economy in the mountainous headwaters is based on tourism and recreation; the economy in the urbanized south-central region mostly is related to manufacturing, service and trade industries, and government services; and the economy of the basin downstream from Denver is based on agriculture and livestock production.
Land use and land cover in the South Platte River Basin during 1975-80 is divided into: 41 percent rangeland, 37 percent agricultural land, 16 percent forest land, 3 percent urban or built-up land, and 3 percent other land. Rangeland is present across all areas of the basin except over the high mountain forests. Agricultural land is somewhat more restricted to the plains and the South Park area near Fairplay, Colo. Forest land occurs in a north-south band in the mountains. Urban or built-up land is present primarily in the Front Range urban corridor. The 'other land' category includes: water (110 mi2), barren lands (160 mi2), tundra (400 mi2), and perennial snow and ice (1 mi2). Barren lands primarily are areas under construction or are areas of strip mining, quarries, or gravel pits.
Study Summary
USGS Circular 1167 summarizes the results of the occurrence and distribution assessment (high-intensity sampling phase) of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program's South Platte River Basin Study Unit investigation (1992 -1995).
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Below are publications associated with this project.
Water quality in the South Platte River basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1992-95
Are streams in agricultural and urban areas contaminated by pesticides?
Denver's urban ground-water quality: Nutrients, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds
Some bacteria are beneficial!
Bibliography of water-related studies, South Platte River basin; Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming
National Water-Quality Assessment program; South Platte River basin
- Overview
The South Platte River Basin study, conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program, combines information on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream habitat, and aquatic life to provide science-based insights for current and emerging water issues in surface waters (streams, rivers, reservoirs) and groundwaters of the South Platte River Basin. The results can contribute to informed decisions that result in practical and effective water-resource management and strategies that protect and restore water quality.
USGS Circular 1167 summarizes the results of the occurrence and distribution assessment (high-intensity sampling phase) of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program's South Platte River Basin Study Unit investigation (1992 -1995).
Study Area:
Location
The South Platte River Basin has a drainage area of about 24,300 mi2 and is located in parts of three States - Colorado (79 percent of the basin), Nebraska (15 percent of the basin), and Wyoming (6 percent of the basin). The South Platte River originates in the mountains of central Colorado at the Continental Divide and flows about 450 mi northeast across the Great Plains to its confluence with the North Platte River at North Platte, Nebraska. Altitude in the basin ranges from 14,286 ft at Mt. Lincoln on the Continental Divide to 2,750 ft. at the confluence of the South Platte and North Platte Rivers. The basin includes two physiographic provinces - the Front Range Section of the Southern Rocky Mountain Province and the Colorado Piedmont Section of the Great Plains Province.
Climate
The basin has a continental-type climate modified by topography, in which there are large temperature ranges and irregular seasonal and annual precipitation. Mean temperatures increase from west to east and on the plains from north to south. Areas along the Continental Divide average 30 in. or more of precipitation annually, which includes snowfall in excess of 300 in. In contrast, the annual precipitation on the plains east of Denver, Colorado, and in the South Park area in the southwest part of the basin, ranges from 7 to 15 in. Most of the precipitation on the plains occurs as rain, which typically falls between April and September, whereas most of the precipitation in the mountains occurs as snow, which typically falls between October and March.
Land Use
The three-State area of the South Platte River Basin has about 2.8 million people, over 95 percent of who live in Colorado. The basin contains the most concentrated population density in the Rocky Mountain region, located along the Front Range urban corridor in Colorado where the mountains meet the plains. Population densities outside the urban corridor are small and centered in small towns located along the principal streams. The principal economy in the mountainous headwaters is based on tourism and recreation; the economy in the urbanized south-central region mostly is related to manufacturing, service and trade industries, and government services; and the economy of the basin downstream from Denver is based on agriculture and livestock production.
Land use and land cover in the South Platte River Basin during 1975-80 is divided into: 41 percent rangeland, 37 percent agricultural land, 16 percent forest land, 3 percent urban or built-up land, and 3 percent other land. Rangeland is present across all areas of the basin except over the high mountain forests. Agricultural land is somewhat more restricted to the plains and the South Park area near Fairplay, Colo. Forest land occurs in a north-south band in the mountains. Urban or built-up land is present primarily in the Front Range urban corridor. The 'other land' category includes: water (110 mi2), barren lands (160 mi2), tundra (400 mi2), and perennial snow and ice (1 mi2). Barren lands primarily are areas under construction or are areas of strip mining, quarries, or gravel pits.
Study Summary
USGS Circular 1167 summarizes the results of the occurrence and distribution assessment (high-intensity sampling phase) of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program's South Platte River Basin Study Unit investigation (1992 -1995).
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Our surface water, groundwater, and aquatic ecosystems are priceless resources, used by people across the Nation for drinking, irrigation, industry, and recreation. The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project is a leading source of scientific data and knowledge for development of science-based policies and management strategies to improve and protect our water resources. - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Water quality in the South Platte River basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1992-95
No abstract available.AuthorsKevin F. Dennehy, David W. Litke, Cathy M. Tate, Sharon L. Qi, Peter B. McMahon, Breton W. Bruce, Robert A. Kimbrough, Janet S. HeinyFilter Total Items: 29Are streams in agricultural and urban areas contaminated by pesticides?
To answer this question, a study of pesticides in streams in a small agricultural area and a small urban area in Colorado was conducted in 1993 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program. The results indicate that pesticides are present in streams, and both agricultural and urban areas are probable sources of the contamination. In the agriAuthorsR. A. KimbroughDenver's urban ground-water quality: Nutrients, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds
A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program characterized the ground-water quality in a part of the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. The study provides an assessment of water-quality conditions in an alluvial aquifer that drains into the South Platte River. Thirty wells randomly distributed in residential, commercial, and induAuthorsBreton W. BruceSome bacteria are beneficial!
Most people would agree that bacteria usually spell trouble where the quality of drinking water is con cerned. However, recent studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program have shown that some bacteria can improve the quality of water.AuthorsPeter B. McMahonBibliography of water-related studies, South Platte River basin; Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming
No abstract available.AuthorsK. F. Dennehy, J. R. Ortiz-ZayasNational Water-Quality Assessment program; South Platte River basin
No abstract available.AuthorsKevin F. Dennehy