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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  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| Characterization of Water Quality         in        Government Highline Canal at Camp 7        Diversion and Highline Lake, Mesa County,        Colorado, July 2000 through September 2003By Roderick F. Ortiz
Available from the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information         Services, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, **USGS         Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5281**, 30 p., 12 figs.

*This document also is available in pdf format: SIR2004-5281 (6 MB)        (Requires Adobe         Acrobat Reader)        Appendix 1 1. Phytoplankton.data.excel         (200 KB)2. Site_T1.phytoplankton.data.txt         (98 KB)3. Site_T3.phytoplankton.data.txt         (87 KB)*

The citation for this report, in USGS format, is as follows:                 Ortiz, R.F., 2005, Characterization of Water Quality in Government Highline         Canal at Camp 7 Diversion and Highline Lake, Mesa County, Colorado, July         2000 through September 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations         Report 2004-5281, 30 p.
Abstract
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the        Colorado Division of Parks and Recreation, collected and analyzed        water-quality data for the Government Highline Canal and Highline Lake         from July 2000 through September 2003. Implementation        of modernization strategies for the canal, which supplies        most of the water to the lake, would decrease the amount of water spilled         to Highline Lake from August through October. A reduction in spill water         into Highline Lake could adversely affect the recreational uses of the         lake. To address this concern and to characterize the water quality in         the Government Highline Canal and Highline Lake, the U.S. Geological Survey         conducted a study to evaluate limnological conditions prior to implementation         of the modernization strategies.

This report characterizes the water quality of inflow from         the Government Canal and in Highline Lake prior to implementation        of modernization strategies in the Government Canal. Flow entering the         lake from the Government Canal was characterized using field properties         and available chemical, sediment, and bacteria        concentrations. Data collected at Highline Lake were used to characterize         the seasonal stratification patterns, water-quality chemistry, bacteria         populations, and phytoplankton community structure in the lake. Data used         for this report were collected at one inflow site to the lake and four         sites in Highline Lake.

Highline Lake is a mesotrophic/eutrophic lake that has dimictic         thermal stratification patterns. Samples collected in the photic zone         indicated that there was little physical, chemical, or biological variability         at this depth at any of the sampled sites in Highline Lake. Strong thermal         and dissolved-oxygen stratification        patterns were observed during summer. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations         of less than 1 milligram per liter were observed during the summer. Ammonia         likely was released from the bottom        sediments of Highline Lake. The limiting nutrient in        Highline Lake could be nitrogen or phosphorus.

In general, the seasonal succession of phytoplankton was         similar to that of other lakes in the temperate zone. Several types of         algae associated with taste and odor issues were identified in samples,         but critical concentrations were not exceeded for any listed algal group         with the exception of the diatom genus        *Cyclotella* in one sample.       
Bacteria concentrations were determined at the public swim         beach at Highline Lake. *E. coli* samples were collected periodically         by the USGS and weekly by the Colorado Division of Parks and Recreation.         During the study period, no reported *E. coli* concentration exceeded         the standard for natural swimming areas.

Inflow water quality was characterized by samples collected         at the Camp 7 check structure on the Government Canal. Inflow water temperatures         reflected the seasonal patterns of the source water in the Colorado River.         The water was well oxygenated. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations         were low, and concentrations did not differ substantially from year to         year or seasonally within a year. All samples had reportable numbers of         fecal streptococcus. The maximum reported concentration of *E. coli*         was reported at 77 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample. Suspended-sediment         concentrations were relatively low.
Contents
Abstract      
Introduction       
Purpose and Scope      
Description of the Study Area      
Acknowledgments      
Methods of Investigation      
Sample Collection and Processing      
Analytical Methods      
Quality Assurance      
Data Analysis Methods      
Water Quality      
Government Canal at Camp 7      
Highline Lake      
Spatial distribution using depth-profile measurements      
Annual stratification patterns       
Selected physical and chemical properties
Turbidity      
Nutrients      
Dissolved organic carbon      
Bacteria      
Chlorophyll      
Phytoplankton      
Tropic state      
Nutrient limitations      
Summary      
References Cited       
Appendix 1 
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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological SurveyPersistent URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2004/5281/		Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing NetworkLast modified: Thursday, December 01 2016, 08:13:09 PM	    |