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)
NAWQA Upper Colorado River Basin Study
NAWQA High Plains Regional Groundwater Study
Below are publications associated with this project.
Water quality in the South Platte River basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1992-95
Near-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004
Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems in the South Platte River basin, Colorado and Wyoming
The Cache la Poudre River, Colorado, as a drinking-water source
Changes in nutrient and pesticide concentrations in urban and agricultural areas of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, 1994–2000
What happens to nutrients in offstream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River basin?
Nutrient dynamics in five off-stream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River basin, March-September 1995
South Platte River; "lifeline of a region"
Pesticides in surface water in agricultural and urban areas of the South Platte River basin, from Denver, Colorado, to North Platte, Nebraska, 1993-94
Water-quality assessment of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming: Environmental setting and water quality of fixed sites, 1993-95
Shallow ground-water quality of selected land-use/aquifer settings in the South Platte River basin, Colorado and Nebraska, 1993-95
Water quality in the South Platte River basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, 1992-95
World Wide Web home page for the South Platte NAWQA
- 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:
Land use in the South Platte River Basin varies from forested areas in the mountains, to urban areas along the Front Range corridor, and to agricultural areas in the plains. Different land uses can lead to different water-quality conditions throughout the basin.(Public domain.) 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.NAWQA Upper Colorado River Basin Study
The USGS implemented the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in 1991 to support national, regional, and local information needs and decisions related to water-quality management and policy. Shaped by and coordinated with ongoing efforts of other Federal, State, and local agencies, the NAWQA Program is designed to answer: What is the condition of our Nation’s streams and ground water...NAWQA High Plains Regional Groundwater Study
As part of the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), the USGS has evaluated ground-water quality in the High Plains aquifer system. Beginning in 1999 and continuing for a period of 6 years, the High Plains Regional Groundwater Study intensively investigated the quality of groundwater resources within the study area. Water quality impairment coupled with water-level declines focus... - 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: 29Near-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004
The lower South Platte River basin of Colorado and Nebraska is an area of intense agriculture supported by surface-water diversions from the river and ground-water pumping from a valley-fill alluvial aquifer. Two well networks consisting of 45 wells installed in the South Platte alluvial aquifer were sampled in the early 1990s and again in the early 2000s to examine near-decadal ground-water qualiAuthorsS.S. Paschke, K.R. Schaffrath, S.L. MashbumEffects of urbanization on stream ecosystems in the South Platte River basin, Colorado and Wyoming
This report describes the effects of urbanization on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of stream ecosystems in 28 basins along an urban land-use gradient in the South Platte River Basin, Colorado and Wyoming, from 2002 through 2003. Study basins were chosen to minimize natural variability among basins due to factors such as geology, elevation, and climate and to maximize coverageAuthorsLori A. Sprague, Robert E. Zuellig, Jean A. DupreeThe Cache la Poudre River, Colorado, as a drinking-water source
No abstract available.AuthorsJim A. Collins, Lori A. SpragueChanges in nutrient and pesticide concentrations in urban and agricultural areas of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, 1994–2000
As part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitored two sites on the main-stem South Platte River? an urban site in Denver and a mixed urban/agricultural site near Kersey?to determine changes in nutrient and pesticide concentrations from 1994 through 2000. Concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and orthophosphorus decreased at the DenAuthorsLori A. Sprague, Adrienne I. GreveWhat happens to nutrients in offstream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River basin?
The practice of storing South Platte River water in offstream reservoirs reduces nutrient concentrations but also contributes to the growth of algae, which may adversely affect the recreational use of the reservoirs. Results of a study of five offstream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River Basin during the 1995 irrigation season showed that the reservoirs trapped 20 to 88 percent of incomingAuthorsLori A. Sprague, Robert A. Kimbrough, Anthony J. RanalliNutrient dynamics in five off-stream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River basin, March-September 1995
In 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study to characterize nutrient concentrations in five off-stream reservoirs in the lower South Platte River Basin?Riverside, Jackson, Prewitt, North Sterling, and Julesburg. These reservoirs are critical sources of irrigation water for agricultural areas, and several also are used for fishing, boating, swimming, hunting, and camping. Data collected fAuthorsLori A. SpragueSouth Platte River; "lifeline of a region"
No abstract available.AuthorsC. M. Tate, K. F. Dennehy, G. LuftPesticides in surface water in agricultural and urban areas of the South Platte River basin, from Denver, Colorado, to North Platte, Nebraska, 1993-94
No abstract available.AuthorsR. A. Kimbrough, D. W. LitkeWater-quality assessment of the South Platte River Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming: Environmental setting and water quality of fixed sites, 1993-95
No abstract available.AuthorsD. W. Litke, Robert KimbroughShallow ground-water quality of selected land-use/aquifer settings in the South Platte River basin, Colorado and Nebraska, 1993-95
No abstract available.AuthorsB. W. Bruce, P. B. McMahonWater 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. HeinyWorld Wide Web home page for the South Platte NAWQA
A World Wide Web home page for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, South Platte River Basin study is now online. The home page includes information about the basinwide investigation and provides viewing and downloading access to physical, chemical, and biological data collected by the study team.AuthorsSharon L. Qi, Kevin F. Dennehy