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Table 7.2a. Uncompahgre River Basin Regulation #93 Colorado’s Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters and Monitoring and Evaluation (Effective 3/2/2018).
Impaired Segment Listed Portion 303(d) Parameters M&E Parameters Use(s) Uncompahgre River from the source Water Supply Manganese --- (Poughkeepsie Gulch) to a point COGUUN02 Aquatic Life pH --- immediately above confluence with Red Mountain Creek Aquatic Life --- Lead Water Supply Manganese --- Uncompahgre River: Red Mountain COGUUN03a Aquatic Life pH --- Creek to Cascade Creek Aquatic Life Zinc --- Uncompahgre River: Cascade Creek COGUUN03b Water Supply Manganese --- to Dexter Creek Uncompahgre River: Dexter Creek to COGUUN03c Water Supply Manganese Dallas Creek Uncompahgre River: outlet of COGUUN03e Aquatic Life Temperature --- Ridgway Reservoir to Broman Canyon Uncompahgre River: confluence with COGUUN03e Broman Canyon to outlet of South Aquatic Life Temperature --- Canal near Uncompahgre Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Aquatic Life Iron (total) --- Uncompahgre River: Cedar Creek to COGUUN04a Aquatic Life --- Selenium Gunnison Rd. in Montrose Water Supply --- Sulfate Aquatic Life --- Sediment Uncompahgre River: Hwy 60 bridge in COGUUN4a Aquatic Life --- Sediment Montrose to Cedar Creek Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Uncompahgre River: Gunnison Rd. in COGUUN4b Montrose to upstream boundary of Water Supply Manganese --- Confluence Park Aquatic Life --- Sediment Uncompahgre River: upstream COGUUN4c boundary of Confluence Park to Aquatic Life --- Sediment confluence with Gunnison River Aquatic Life --- Cadmium Aquatic Life --- Copper COGUUN05 Commodore Gulch and its tributaries Aquatic Life --- Lead Aquatic Life Zinc --- Aquatic Life Cadmium --- Aquatic Life Copper --- COGUUN05 Governor Basin Aquatic Life Lead --- Water Supply Manganese --- Aquatic Life Zinc ---
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Table 7.2a. CONTINUED: Regulation 93 (Effective 3/2/2018)
Impaired Segment Listed Portion 303(d) Parameters M&E Parameters Use(s) COGUUN05 Silver Creek Aquatic Life --- Lead Aquatic Life Cadmium --- Aquatic Life Lead --- Sneffles Creek downstream of COGUUN05 Water Supply Manganese --- Governor Basin Aquatic Life Macroinvertebrates --- Aquatic Life Zinc --- Red Mountain Creek upstream of the Aquatic Life Silver --- COGUUN06a confleunce with the East Fork of Red Aquatic Life Mountain Creek Zinc --- Aquatic Life Copper --- Aquatic Life Lead --- COGUUN07 Grey Copper Gulch Aquatic Life pH --- Aquatic Life Zinc --- Aquatic Life Cadmium --- COGUUN08 Mineral Creek Aquatic Life Copper --- Aquatic Life Zinc --- Aquatic Life Cadmium --- Lower Sneffels Creek, within 1.5 miles Aquatic Life Lead --- COGUUN09 from confluence with Imogene Creek, Aquatic Life and all tributaries --- Macroinvertebrates Aquatic Life Zinc --- COGUUN09 Canyon Creek Aquatic Life Zinc --- Aquatic Life Cadmium --- COGUUN09 Imogene Creek Aquatic Life Copper --- Aquatic Life Zinc --- COGUUN10a Alkali Creek and all tributaries Aquatic Life --- Selenium Cow Creek from confluence with COGUUN10a Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Nate Creek to Uncompahgre River Macroinvertebrates Aquatic Life --- COGUUN11 Deer Creek from source to Cow Creek (provisional) Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Cow Creek: all tributaries and COGUUN11 wilderness to Nate Creek Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Water Supply Arsenic (total) COGUUN11 Dallas Creek Aquatic Life --- Temperature Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- COGUUN11 Billy Creek Aquatic Life --- Iron (total) Coal, Pleasant Valley, and Boaton COGUUN11 Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Creeks
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Table 7.2a. CONTINUED: Regulation 93 (Effective 3/2/2018)
Impaired Segment Listed Portion 303(d) Parameters M&E Parameters Use(s) COGUUN11 Onion Creek and its tributaries Water Supply Arsenic (total) --- Dry Creek: Coalbank Canyon Creek to COGUUN12 Uncompahgre River Aquatic Life Iron (total) --- Loutzenhizer Arroyo and its COGUUN12 tributaries Aquatic Life Iron (total) --- Dry Creek: confluence of East & West COGUUN15b Forks to Coalbank Canyon Creek Aquatic Life --- Sediment Aquatic Life --- Lead COGUUN19 Ridgway Reservoir Aquatic Life --- Zinc Sweitzer Lake (a.k.a. Garnet Mesa COGUUN20 Aquatic Life Selenium --- Reservoir)
The 303(d) and M&E List is revised every two years. The next revision will be completed during the Regulation 93 hearing that will begin during the fall of 2020. The WQCC maintains a long-term schedule at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wqcc-meetings The most current version of the 303(d) and M&E List, also known as Regulation 93, is available at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/water-quality-control-commission- regulations
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Table 7.2b. Uncompahgre River Basin approved TMDLs.
WBID Segment Description TMDL Approved (Date) Mainstem of the Uncompahgre River from the source at Como Lake (Poughkeepsie Gulch) to COGUUN02 Cd, Cu, Zn (2010) a point immediately above the confluence with Red Mountain Creek Mainstem of the Uncompahgre River from a point immediately above the confluence with COGUUN03A Cd, Cu, Fe(Trec) (2010) Red Mountain Creek to the Highway 90 bridge at Montrose Mainstem of the Uncompahgre River from La Salle COGUUN4B Road to Confluence Park Se (2011) Mainstem of the Uncompahgre River from COGUUN4C Confluence Park to Gunnison River Se (2011) Mainstem of Red Mountain Creek, from the source to COGUUN06A immediately above the confluence with East Fork Zn (2010) Red Mountain Creek
All tributaries to the Uncompahgre River, including all wetlands, from the South Canal near Uncompahgre COGUUN12 to the confluence with the Gunnison River, except for Se (2011) specific listings in Segments 13, 14, 15a and 15b.
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Table 7.2c. Stream segments in the Upper Uncompahgre Watershed that are proposed for 303(d) listing in 2018 and considered for TMDL development in 2020 (Table was prepared in October 2017).
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Table 7.3. WLA for Historic Mining Sources
WBID Metal % of allowable load attributed to historic mining
Cadmium 23% Segment 2 Copper 44% Zinc 73% Cadmium 17% Segment 3a Copper 3% Iron 43% Segment 6a Zinc n/a Source: Red Mountain Creek TMDL Assessment (WQCD, 2009) WBID based on Table 7.2a
Table 7.4. Target Annual Selenium Load Reduction (lbs/yr) Average Average Average Mean WBID Site Names Load Percent Load Annual Reduction Reduction Load Dry Cedar Creek 270 250 93 Cedar Creek near Mouth 1,980 1,730 87 12 Loutzenhizer Arroyo at N. River 5,200 5,070 98 Road Dry Creek at Mouth, near Delta 1,230 653 53 4b Uncompahgre River at Delta 5,420 3,730 69 Source: USGS Selenium Report (Thomas et al., 2008) WBID based on Table 7.2a
Table 7.5. Selenium Concentrations and Loads to Sweitzer Lake
85th Percentile Source Annual Load Load Reduction Concentration Garnet Canal Diversion 17.2 ug/L 48.9 lbs 35.9 lbs (73%) Diversion Drain 7.65 ug/L 18.4 lbs 7.32 lbs (40%) Groundwater flux 19.7 – 198 ug/L 1.17-88.3 lbs 0.009 – 86.3 lbs Source: USGS Sweitzer Lake Study (Thomas, 2009)
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Table 7.6. Seasonal Conductivity (µS/cm) levels in the Uncompahgre River
Location High Water Irrigation Flow Base Flow Ouray 235 395 625 Ridgway 420 565 680 Delta 1,070 1,150 1,530 Source: adapted from Tuttle and Grauch, 2009
Table 7.7. Tri-County Water Quality Assessment of Ridgway Reservoir
Parameter Sample Location Description
Uncompahgre River River samples generally above MCL and stream standards, Iron Reservoir Outlet Reservoir Outlet had high July concentration Uncompahgre River Extremely high levels in the river, Aluminum Reservoir Surface several exceedances of secondary MCL in reservoir Reservoir Outlet Samples generally exceeded MCL, always below chronic Manganese Uncompahgre River stream standard All samples were below the MCL. The Reservoir Surface and Reservoir Outlet samples exceeded the acute stream standard Uncompahgre River in April, but were below the chronic stream standard for all Cadmium Reservoir Surface other samples. The River sample was always below the acute Reservoir Outlet stream standard, but exceeded the chronic stream standard for April through June. The final two River samples (July and August) were below the chronic stream standard. Dissolved and Uncompahgre River Most samples above 2.0 mg/l, the level generally considered Total Organic Reservoir Surface low organic water Carbon All samples above chronic and acute standards, all samples Copper Uncompahgre River below MCL All Reservoir Surface and Reservoir Outlet samples below MCL. River samples were below the acute stream standard for all samples, but at or above the chronic stream standard for Uncompahgre River April through July. Reservoir Surface samples were above the Lead Reservoir Surface chronic stream standard for April through June, but were Reservoir Outlet below the standard in July and August. The Reservoir Outlet sample was above the chronic stream standard in April, but below the standard for all other months. Alkalinity Uncompahgre River Low alkalinity in spring runoff Total Uncompahgre River Significant increases associated with spring runoff Suspended
Solids Source: 2007 Tri-County Ridgway Reservoir Water Quality Study Final Report
TABLES 15-36 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
Table 9.1. Goals and Objectives Pollutant/ Goal Priority Sources Extent Present Cause Objective Influence Natural mineralization Throughout the upper Natural erosion Restore waters impaired by High Heavy Metals watershed, particularly Red Untreated tailings and waste Inactive mine features metals Mountain Creek Basin rock piles, draining adits lower watershed Mancos Shale (83,616 irrigated acres) Restore waters impaired by High Selenium Deep groundwater percolation North R-34 gravel pit selenium Point Source Discharges WWTP discharges lower watershed Medium Salts Mancos Shale Deep percolation Reduce salt loads (83,616 irrigated acres) Improve water Overuse of fertilizer Agricultural runoff Below Ridgway Reservoir quality Lack of runoff controls Undersized and out-dated infrastructure Medium Nutrients Stormwater runoff Entire watershed Reduce nutrient loads Lack of stormwater planning Inadequate permit enforcement Limited lagoon efficiency in Wastewater treatment Ouray and Ridgway winter weather Natural Erosion Medium Sediment Entire watershed Erosion Reduce sediment loads Channelization Land use practices Understand the factors that lead Channel Channelization Medium Multiple Entire watershed to instability and unpredictability instability Storm events of the river channel In-stream gravel mining Entire watershed, especially Protect environmentally Improve Medium Development Population growth Loss of habitat riverine along river corridor in Montrose sensitive areas ecosystem Inadequate floodplain maps function Medium Flooding Altered hydrograph Ouray, Ouray to Ridgway, Delta Accelerated snowmelt Improve flood management Lack of floodplain connectivity Encourage development of Non-native Development in the floodplain Medium Existing infestations Montrose to Delta riparian buffers and new species Lack of native vegetation wetlands Priority system Fully appropriated river Increased domestic demand Increased municipal demand Improve Medium Low seasonal Notable low flows at Identify long-term strategies to seasonal low Irrigated agriculture Inefficient irrigation practices flows Pa-co-chu-puk and Olathe augment flows flows In-channel diversions Inefficient diversion structures Conservative water Reservoir releases management objectives
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Pollutant/ Goal Priority Sources Extent Present Cause Objective Influence Limited places for boaters to Public – private boundaries are Medium Trespass Patchwork of private property portage, picnic or pull over for Improve not well marked Educate the public about safety reasons recreation rights, responsibilities and Un-marked, non-navigable opportunities Navigation In-channel diversion safety hazards Medium 6 major diversion structures diversion structures that are barriers structures dangerous for boaters Create and Increase participation in UWP maintain a meetings stable High Instability Lack of formal structure Entire watershed Lack of consistent leadership Secure funding for stakeholder implementation and future group watershed coordinator
TABLES 15-38 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
Table 9.2. Critical Areas in the Uncompahgre Watershed Goal Objective Critical Areas • 303d listed = UN02, UN03a, UN06a Meet TMDL for heavy metals • M&E = UN07, UN08, UN09 • UN04b, UN04c, UN11, UN14 • Irrigated lands overlying Mancos Shale • Meet TMDL for selenium Unlined and un-piped ditches that overly Mancos Shale • Previously un-irrigated lands that overly Mancos Improve Water Shale that have potential to be developed • Irrigated lands on seleniferous and salt-laden Quality Reduce salt loads soils • Lower tributaries • UR below Montrose Reduce nutrient loads • UR below Ouray to Ridgway Res. • Cow and Dallas Creek • Sweitzer Lake Reduce sediment loads • unknown Understand the factors that lead to instability and unpredictability of the river • entire river corridor channel Improve riverine Protect environmentally sensitive areas • CNHP sites ecosystem Improve flood management • Ouray, Delta function Encourage development of riparian • entire river corridor buffers and new wetlands Improve in-stream habitat structure • Ridgway, Montrose • Segments with ISF rights Increase in- Identify long-term strategies to augment • UR at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk stream flows flows • UR at Olathe Improve Educate the public about rights, • 6 major diversion structures recreation responsibilities and safety hazards • Public access points opportunities
Table 10.1. List of Reports with Watershed Recommendations Pollutant Title of Report Date Lead Cooperator Idarado Reclamation Contingency Idarado Mining, Metals 2014 Plan DRMS/CDPHE Lower Gunnison Basin Watershed 2012 Selenium Task Force Selenium Plan Selenium Management Program 2012 Bureau of Reclamation Gunnison Basin Needs Colorado Water Low Flows 2010 Assessments Conservation Board The Uncompahgre River Basin: A Weeds and Natural Heritage Assessment and Colorado Natural sensitive A Natural Heritage Assessment of 1998 Heritage Program communities Wetlands and Riparian Areas in the Uncompahgre River Basin Water Uncompahgre River Water Quality 2012 UWP Quality Report River Uncompahgre River Rapid River 2012 UWP Corridor Assessment
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Table 10.2. Target Metals Reductions
WBID Metal Description of seasonal load reductions
Cd >70% in months of March through May UN02 Cu >70% in months of April through May Zn 83% in the month of April Cd 48% - 57% in months of March through May, Sept and Oct UN03a Cu >80% in months of October through March Fe 72% - 82% in months of January through April UN06a Zn High Flow: 75% reduction, Low Flow: 45% reduction Source: Red Mountain Creek TMDL Assessment (WQCD, 2009)
Table 10.3. Target Selenium Reductions Annual Load Reduction Waterbody % range lbs/yr May (61%) 4b: Uncompahgre River from LaSalle Road to Confluence 2,279 Jan (81%) 4c: Uncompahgre River from Confluence Park to Gunnison Mar (56%) 2,129 River Feb (82%) Jun (31%) 12: Cedar Creek 1.472 Dec (90%) Jun (52%) 12: Dry Cedar Creek 260 Dec (95%) May (89%) 12: Loutsenhizer Arroyo 6,625 Nov (98%) Jul (80%) 12: Montrose Arroyo 1,133 Jan (97%) Dec (18%) 12: Dry Creek 349 Feb (54%) Source: Lower Gunnison Basin TMDL (WQCD, 2010)
TABLES 15-40 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
Table 11.2. Water Quality Data Sources Agency Description / Citation Sites 55 and 79, data from 1968 to 2007 depending on parameter. WQCD, 2009. Use Attainability analysis Uncompahgre River. WQCD, 2009. Total Maximum Daily Load Assessment Red Mountain WQCD Creek/Uncompahgre River, San Juan/Ouray/Montrose County, Colorado. Final Draft. WQCD, 2009. Total Maximum Daily Load Assessment Gunnison River and Tributaries Uncompahgre River and Tributaries, Delta/Mesa/Montrose Counties, Colorado. Public Notice Draft. O’Grady, M. 2005. Combined assessment analytical results report upper Uncompahgre River watershed Ouray and San Juan Counties, Colorado. CDPHE/ Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, Hazardous HAZMAT Materials and Waste Management Division. Denver, Colorado Mackey, Kevin. 2000. Analytical Results Report, Canyon Creek Watershed, Ouray, CO. Price, Camille. 2001.May sediment release study from Ouray Hydro dam River Watch Program (Mid 1990’s to 2007) DOW Martin, Lori. 2003-2004. CDOW. Delta irrigation ditches
Kowalski, Dan. 2009. Macroinvertebrate samples MFG. 1991. Technical Memorandum Red Mountain Creek Basin Study Flow MFG Spring 1990 High Flow Conditions Volume I. Four USGS sites (9146020 at Ouray, 9146200 above Ridgway Reservoir, 9147025 below Ridgway Reservoir and 9147500 at Colona) Thomas, J.C., K.J. Leib, and J.W. Mayo. 2008. Analysis of dissolved selenium loading for selected sits in the lower Gunnison River Basin, Colorado. 1978- USGS 2005.
Runkel, Robert L., Kimball, Briant A., Walton-Day, Katherine, and Verplanck, Philip L., 2005, Geochemistry of Red Mountain Creek, Colorado, under low-flow conditions, August 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5101, 78 p
Table 12.1. Outreach Strategies
Pollutant source or Outreach/Education Target audience Key Message watershed problem method Deep percolation of Irrigators Minimize deep Educational forums seliferous and salt Ditch companies percolation by Direct mailing laden soils Water providers implementing BMPs Resource Specialists Educational forums Idarado Monitor and track Abandoned mines and Inactive mines Legacy miners progress of Idarado Water Quality Conference General Public remediation project Mine Tours Meet on site with riverfront Implementation of unstable stream Riverfront landowners BMPs can minimize banks homeowners Direct mail to riverfront excessive erosion landowners
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Table 12.1. Outreach Strategies (CONTINUED)
Implementation of Riverfront Educational forums BMPs and removal Invasive species homeowners projects can mitigate Meet on site with riverfront General Public landowners weed problem The Uncompahgre Public education, Signage watershed is a great safety, and Recreational users Flyers place to recreate, keep stewardship it clean and safe Educational forums Water users Educational Forums Seasonal low flows Smart Water Use Ditch Companies Direct mailing Create comprehensive Educational forums Stormwater runoff Municipalities stormwater Meetings with stormwater management programs managers Employ best management practices Growers, to save money, Education forums Agricultural runoff municipalities improve soil health, Direct mail and improve water quality A growing population in Water users the watershed will produce increased Educational Forums Water supply gaps Municipalities demands for drinking Planning Water providers and agricultural water Smart water use With the onset of global Water users warming spring runoffs Accelerated snowmelt Educational forums Municipalities could run larger for a in spring months Planning Water providers shorter period of time. Smart water use Shrinking riparian habitat from Educational forums Home owners development will Development Planning Municipalities impede in-stream habitat and watershed health
TABLES 15-42 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
Table 13.1. Methods for Evaluating Success
Objectives Methods for evaluating success
Restore waters impaired by heavy # BMPs installed, water quality improvement, segments metals removed from the 303d list
# BMPs installed, water quality improvement, segments Restore waters impaired by selenium removed from the 303d list Reduce salt loads # BMPs installed, water quality improvement
Reduce nutrient loads # BMPs installed
Reduce sediment loads # miles restored, water quality improvement Understand the factors that lead to instability and unpredictability of the river # studies completed channel # acres protected by conservation easements Protect environmentally sensitive areas # of miles free from weeds and non-native species Improve flood management within the # maps created, # meetings with local government Uncompahgre Valley representatives Encourage development of riparian # of miles free from weeds and non-native species buffers and new wetlands Identify long-term strategies to augment Winter flows below Ridgway Reservoir, summer flows at flows Olathe, # Wise Water Use Council meetings attended # structures installed, fish surveys, macroinvertebrate Improve in-stream habitat structure surveys Educate public about private rights, #signs/maps posted, reduced number of boating incidents, responsibilities and safety hazards reduced number of trespass conflicts # of individuals at each meeting, # meetings scheduled per Increase participation in UWP meetings year, # volunteer opportunities scheduled, # of newspaper articles # grants applied for, # of businesses approached for Secure funding for implementation and support, amount of funding received, successful allocation future watershed coordinator and implementation of granted money
TABLES 15-43 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
16.0 FIGURES Figure 2.1. Location of the Uncompahgre Watershed
FIGURES 16-1 UNCOMPAHGRE WATERSHED PLAN
Figure 2.2. Geology
Source: Leib and Mayo, 2008
FIGURES 16-2
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Figure 2.3. Precipitation
Source: NRCS Rapid Watershed Assessment, 2009
FIGURES 16-3
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Figure 2.4. Median Monthly Flow Ridgway (1958-2008) at USGS Gage 9146200
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000 Monthly Average (AFY) Discharge MonthlyAverage
0
Figure 2.5. Median Monthly Flow Delta (1958-2008) at USGS Gage 9149500
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400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000 Monthly Average Discharge (AFY) Average Discharge Monthly
0
FIGURES 16-4