Preliminary Identification, Analysis, and Classification of Odor-Causing Mechanisms Influenced by Decreasing Salinity of the Great Salt Lake

Introduction: The rising level of the Great Salt Lake has received a great deal of attention because of the resulting physical damage to adjoining properties, threatened distruption of major transportation facilities, and environmental damage to feeding and resting areas for migratory waterfowl. Another problem of growing concern is that some zones of the lake are producing odors that are objectionable to nearby populated areas. These odors are most offensive during the warm summer months and appear to be increasing with the rising levels and decreasing salinity of the lake water. This report presents the approach taken and the findings of a short-term investigation completed by the Utah Water Research Laboratory to determine the sources and mechanisms causing the odor. At the outset of the study, it was hypothesized that the odors come from one or more of the following sources: 1) bottom sediments which contain municipal and agricultural seqage residues and industrial wastes; 2) decay of algal blooms and the organic material produced by the algae; 3) decaying vegetative matter on land areas that have only recently been inundated by the rising water of the lake; and 4) decaying pupae cases of brine flies. The first tree of these were investigated briefly in the laboratory using lake water and sediment samples. Information on brine flies was derived from the literature from numerous studies taht have been made during recent years

Suspended and Dissolved Solids Effects on Freshwater Biota: A Review

It is widely recognized that suspended and dissolved solids in lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs affect water quality. In this report the research needs appropriate to setting freshwater quality criteria or standards for suspeneded solids (not including bedload) and dissolveed solids are defined by determining the state of our knowledge from a critical review of the recent literature in this field. Common literature sources and computer searching routines were used as an initial source of information followed by detailed journal searches. Although some 185 journal articles, government reports, and other referecnes were cited herein (about 45 percent publicshed since 1974) and many other reports (about 300 citation) were reviewed, there is a dearth of quantitative information on the response of freshwater biota, especially at the community level, to suspended and dissolved solids. Consequently, the major research need was defined as the development and-or application of concepts of community response to suspended and dissolved solids concentrations and loads. These concepts need to be applied especially to the photosynthetic lebel and the microfauna and macrofauna levels. Fish studies are of lower priority since more and better research has been reported for these organisms. In addition, the role of suspended solids in transporting toix substances (organics, heavy metals), aesthetic evaluation of suspened solids in aquatic ecosystems and dissolved solids in drinking water, and economic aspects of dissolved solids in municipal-industrial water were defined as research needs

Pre-Impoundment Water Quality Study for the San Miguel Project

Introduction: Scope of Study: The United State Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is currently evaluating plans to construct a multipurpose reservoir on the San Miguel River 32 kilometers (20 miles) below Telluride, Colorado. As part of the environmental assessment for this project, the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) was contracted to conduct an intensive water quality study on the San Miguel River and its tributaries in the vicinity of the project area. In this study water samples were collected during the period from May, 1977, to August, 1978, on a monthly basis from three sites on the San Miguel River and from Leopard Creek. Samples were analyzed for 49 water quality parameters. The data collected during this period were used to evaluate the existing quality of water at each site with respect to various water uses. Project description: The plans for this project had not been finalized at the time of this writing, but a tentative plan is described in a USBR planning report (USBR, 1978). In this plan, the Saltado Damsite was to be located in the San Miguel Canyon 32 km downstream from Telluride, Colorado (Figure 1). The reservoir will have a total capacity of 3.20 x 10^7 m^3 (26,000 A. F.) and a surface area of about 154 hectares (380 acrea). The project will provide 47 z 10^6 m^3 (38,211 A.F.) of water for irrigation and 37 x 10^6 m^3 (30,081 A. F.) for municipal and industrial use per year. In addition to the reservoir, the project will include a nine mile long pipeline to Norwood Hill, a lift station at Norwood Hill and a canal on the Wright\u27s Mesa to conduct water to farmlands. Project features are summarized in Table 1

Pre-Impoundment Water Quality Study for the Mc Elmo Project

Introduction: The U.S. Bureas of Reclamation is currently in the process of evaluating a number of water development projects in Southwest Colorado. As a part of the planning process the Bureasu has conducted a water qualtiy investigation, in cooperations with the UWRL, of the stream segments that will be affected by each project. The data collected in this study were used to evaluate the water quality of each stream segment with respect to various beneficial uses of water (agriculture, raw municipal water supply, protection of the aquatic biota) and will provide a baseline by which to assess the impact of each project. In addition, these data will be used in the process of site location, design and oeprations planning for reservoirs and other project features. This report includes only the results of the water quality study of McElmo Creek, associated with the McElmost Project. Water quality data were collected during the period from May, 1977 through June, 1978. One sample was collected and analyzed during each month of the study except during June, 1977, in which two samples were collected from some sites. The concentration of 49 water qualtiy constituents was determined for each sample received at the UWRL

Pre-Impoundment Water Quality Study for the West Divide Project

Introduction: The U.S. Bureas of Reclamation is currently in the process of evaluating a number of water development projects in Southwest Colorado. As a part of the planning process the Bureasu has conducted a water qualtiy investigation, in cooperations with the UWRL, of the stream segments that will be affected by each project. The data collected in this study were used to evaluate the water quality of each stream segment with respect to various beneficial uses of water (agriculture, raw municipal water supply, protection of the aquatic biota) and will provide a baseline by which to assess the impact of each project. In addition, these data will be used in the process of site location, design and oeprations planning for reservoirs and other project features. This report includes only the results of the West Divide Project. Data were collected for three water quality stations associated with this project: Station #13: West Divide Creek Station #20: Lower Colorado River at Silt, Colorado Station #21: Upper Colorado River at Newcastle, Colorado Water quality data were collected during the period from May, 1977, through August, 1978. One sample was collected and analyzed during each month of the study except during June, 1977, when two samples were collected from some sites. The concentration of 49 water quality constituents was determined for each sample at the UWRL

Pre-Impoundment Water Quality Study for the Mancos Project

Introduction: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is currently in the process of evaluating a number of water development projects in Southwest Colorado. As a part of the planning process the Bureau has conducted a water quality investigation, in cooperation with the UWRL, of the stream segments that will be affected by each project. The data collected in this study were used to evaluate the water quality of each stream segment with respect to various beneficial uses of water (agriculture, raw municipal water supply, protection of the aquatic biota) and will provide a baseline by which to assess the impact of each project. in addition, these data will be used in the process of site location, design and operation planning for reservoirs and other project features. This report includes only the results of the water quality study of the Mancos River, associated with the Mancos Project. Water quality data were collected during the period from May, 1977, through August, 1978, One sample was collected and analyzed during each month except during June, 1977, in which two samples were collected from some sites. The concentration of 49 water quality constituents was determined for each sample at the UWRL