RECONNAISSANCE INVESTIGATION OF WATER QUALITY, BOTTOM SEDIMENT, AND BIOTA ASSOCIATED WITH IRRIGATION DRAINAGE IN THE PINE RIVER PROJECT AREA, SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN RESERVATION, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO AND NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO, 1988-89 by David L. Butler, U.S. Geological Survey Richard P. Krueger, Barbara Campbell Osmundson, and Andrew L. Thompson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service James J. Formea and Donald W. Wickman, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Water-Resources Investigations Report 92-4188 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION U.S. BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS Denver, Colorado 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief Books and Open-File Reports Section U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Federal Center Federal Center Box 25046, Mail Stop 415 Box 25425, Mail Stop 517 Denver, CO 80225-0046 Denver, CO 80225-0425 Aluminum ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Arsenic .......................................................................................................................................................... 48 Cadmium ....................................................................................................................................................... 48 Copper ........................................................................................................................................................... 49 Lead ............................................................................................................................................................... 50 Mercury ......................................................................................................................................................... 51 Zinc ............................................................................................................................................................... 53 Organochlorine pesticides ............................................................................................................................. 53 Summary .............................................................................................................................^^ 53 References ............................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Supplemental data ................................................................................................................................................................ 61 FIGURES 1. Map showing extent of irrigated area, primary features, and location of data-collection sites in the Pine River Project area, Southern Ute Indian Reservation, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, 1988-89................................................................................................. 5 2. Schematic diagram of major streams, tributaries, reservoirs, canals, and movement of water...................... 9 3-12. Graphs showing: 3. Daily mean stream discharge for water year 1989, average daily mean stream discharge for water years 1952-88, and dates when water-quality samples were collected at streamflow-gaging station 09354500, Los Pinos River at La Boca (site LP4)........................ 10 4. Annual mean stream discharge at streamflow-gaging station 09354500, Los Pinos River at La Boca, water years 1952-89. ............................................................................................ 11 5. Daily mean stream discharge for water year 1989, average daily mean stream discharge for water years 1952-88, and dates when water-quality samples were collected at streamflow-gaging station 09355000, Spring Creek at La Boca (site SP2) ............................ 12 6. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the Los Pinos River, November 1988 and March and July 1989................................................................................................................................... 26 7. Dissolved-solids concentrations in Rock and Dry Creeks, November 1988 and March and July 1989................................................................................................................................... 27 8. Water-level measurements for well WL1 ....................................................................................... 32 9. Water-level measurements for well WL2 ....................................................................................... 32 10. Water-level measurements for well WL3 ....................................................................................... 32 11. Water-level measurements for well WL4 ....................................................................................... 32 12. Water-level measurements for well WL5 ....................................................................................... 32 13. Map showing total-selenium concentrations in soil samples collected at 0- to 4-inch depth on the Oxford Tract, August 1989........................................................................................................... 36 14-18. Graphs showing: 14. Total-selenium concentrations in plant samples collected on the Oxford Tract, grouped by general types........................................................................................................................ 39 15. Mean selenium concentrations in whole-body fish samples collected at seven sites in June 1988 ............................................................................................................................. 42 16. Mean selenium concentrations in whole-body fish samples collected in June 1988 and from November 1988 to July 1989, separated by trophic levels.............................................. 43 17. Mean selenium concentrations in whole-body fish samples collected at 23 sites, November 1988 to July 1989.................................................................................................... 44 18. Selenium concentrations in tissue samples from a channel catfish collected from Rock Creek at Ignacio (site R2) on April 3, 1989........................................................................................ 45 19. Map showing extent of the west marsh and the east marsh on the Oxford Tract.......................................... 46 20-22. Graphs showing: 20. Mean selenium concentrations in bird tissue samples collected at wetland sites in the Pine River Project area, May-July 1989 .................................................................................. 47 21. Mean copper concentrations in whole-body fish samples collected from November 1988 to July 1989, separated by trophic levels.................................................................................. 50 22. Mean mercury concentrations in whole-body fish samples collected at 23 sites, November 1988 to July 1989.................................................................................................... 52 IV Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality, Bottom Sediment, and Biota Associated with Irrigation Drainage in the Pine River Project Area, Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Southwestern Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico, 1988-89 CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................ Introduction ................................................................................... Purpose and scope ............................................................. Acknowledgments ............................................................. Description of Pine River Project area ......................................... Location ............................................................................. History ............................................................................... Physiography and climate .................................................. Geology ............................................................................. Soils and land use .............................................................. Fish and wildlife resources ................................................ Hydrologic setting ......................................................................... Streams .............................................................................. Irrigation system ................................................................ Ground water ..................................................................... Previous investigations ................................................................. Water-quality data .............................................................. Streams ................................................................... Ground water.......................................................... Soil and bottom-sediment data .......................................... Biological data ................................................................... Sample collection and analysis ..................................................... Objectives .........................................................................