In the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed, many of the metals harmful to aquatic life are brought into the river by natural erosion and acidic water drainage from mines and other exposed rock. Most of this metal-contaminated water drains first into Red Mountain Creek and Sneffels Creek, and then into the Uncompahgre River. These graphs show … Read more
A stream like the Uncompahgre River transports many substances as it flows through a variety of geologic, land use, vegetation, and urban areas. The substances include suspended bits of soil and rock, organic material, nutrients, bacteria, and dissolved and undissolved metals. Suspended materials, particularly those containing metals like iron, can produce different colors in streams … Read more
River Watch Data Summary (2019-2021) and Review of WQCC 2022 Regulation 93 – 303(d) List of Impaired Waters UWP has participated in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife River Watch Program since 2013. Previous UWP reports summarized River Watch data through 2018. Since then, six UWP volunteers have collected water quality samples at six to eleven … Read more
