Numerous entities collect data along the Eagle River and its tributaries. Some collect water chemistry data, while others collect biological data such as fish population counts and invertebrate community assessments. Data collection schedules and methods frequently vary between entities. This presents barriers to direct data comparison, hampering efforts to assess spatio-temporal water quality trends across the watershed. Specifically, the Water Quality Assessment Program began in response to a percieved:
- Lack of a central data coordination and collection
- Lack of comprehensive evaluation of all data collected across the watershed
- Lack of cohesive action plans based on data interpretation
Identification of these issues suggested the need for a central coordinating program aims to ensure all monitoring efforts leverage the activities of others and remain cost effective, while producing valuable insight to be used in for developing action plans and policy.
This Water Quality Assessment Program aims to objectively engage stakeholders regarding water quality data collected on the Eagle River. The program continually coordinates monitoring and assessment activities, provides data interpretation and techinical assistance to stakeholders, identifies data gaps, and suggests actions to remedy percieved impairments. The program pulls together a diverse set of stakeholders to assure coordinated ongoing monitoring and to preserve or enhance the integrity of the watershed. Some of the program activities are listed below:
- Assessment of recent monitoring results into an annual ‘report card’ that will describe what we are learning about stream conditions.
- Organization of data collection efforts to eliminate duplicative efforts and correct the oversight of undersampled areas.
- Stakeholder engagement and educational outreach to the community on water quality issues
- Provide technical assistance for specific watershed issues, including: I-70 sediment loading to Black Gore and Gore Creeks, non-point nutrient sources and effects, Eagle Mine metals loading, and other topics as requested by program partners.
- Co-authorship of the State of the Rivers report and Eagle River Watershed Plan update.
- Development of a multi-year Monitoring and Assessment Plan to guide and prioritize the long-term activities.
Click to download:
Assessment of Surface-Water Quantity and Quality, Eagle River Watershed, Colorado, 1947–2007
Macroinvertebrate-Based Assessment of Biological Condition at Selected Sites in the Eagle River Watershed, Colorado, 2000- 2007
Black Gore Creek TMDL Assessment, 2008
Vail Non-Point Source Management Plan
State of the Rivers Report
2007 Fish Study
2012 Annual Partners' Meeting
The Colorado Watershed Assembly supports collaborative efforts to protect and improve the conservation values of the land, water and other natural resources of Colorado watersheds. The goal of the Assembly is to support the efforts of individual and non-profit community groups statewide working to conserve and enhance the natural resources of local watersheds.
The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission is the administrative agency responsible for developing specific state water quality policies, in a manner that implements the broader policies set forth by the Legislature in the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. The Commission adopts water quality classifications and standards for surface and ground waters of the state, as well as various regulations aimed at achieving compliance with those classifications and standards.
Founded in 1959, the Colorado Water Quality Association is dedicated to promoting the principles of honesty, integrity and professionalism for the water quality improvement industry. Likewise, it is dedicated to preserving the consuming public's right to quality water. The CWQA is a not-for-profit state trade association representing the household, commercial and industrial water treatment industry.
The Colorado Water Quality forum was created in 1992 to provide an opportunity for an ongoing informal dialogue among diverse parties representing a broad spectrum of stakeholder interests in water quality management. Participants include water suppliers, industrial and municipal dischargers, environmental groups, and federal, states, and local governmental agencies.
The Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council serves as a statewide collaborative body, open to all, to help achieve effective goal identification, data collection, data analysis, data retrieval, and reporting/dissemination of water quality data, and monitoring information.
The Council addresses the full range of water quality information, including chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of surface and ground waters.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with other government agencies, stakeholder groups, and private entities, is maintaining a water-quality database for selected study areas in Colorado. This database combines water-quality data from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) and the U.S. EPA STORET databases. Specific to the Eagle River - this site contains data from the many sources that collect data in the Eagle River watershed.
http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/cwqdr/Eagle/index.shtml
This website provides information on water quality conditions reported by the states to EPA under Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. EPA has issued guidance to the states recommending the submittal of 305(b) and 303(d) information in one Integrated Report, and has developed this website to display and support this reporting. Not all states have provided integrated data to EPA. Click on Status of Available Data to see whether or not Integrated Reports are available for individual states.
Click here to view information on the Eagle River Watershed.
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Data Partners |
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Eagle River Watershed Council
Eagle County
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority
Colorado River Water Conservation District
Town of Eagle
Town of Vail
Town of Minturn
Town of Gypsum
Town of Avon
Vail Resorts Management Co.
Aurora Water
Colorado Springs Utilities
Denver Water
Crave Real Estate
U.S. Geological Survey
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USGS
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
US Forest Service
River Watch
Town of Vail/RiverRestoration.org
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