Compared to the other Core Counties, Routt
County ranks 6th in
water quality, with only 6.5% of the total reported stream flow
being on the 303(d)
“warning” list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

The Team arrived at six final categories to measure:

Land Use,

Water Quality

Air Quality

Ambient Conditions

Solid Waste

Environmental Stewardship

As biodiversity
information becomes available, it will be added and tracked in the Index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Quality

water 2water 1

2. Water Quality (weight: 20%)
What is our water quality?
Basis: Water in Routt County is essential for agriculture, municipal, utility, recreation, wildlife, and aquatic life. It is important to identify and track both quality and quantity of water.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies some bodies of water as having quality issues, and therefore places them on a 303(d) list for monitoring under two categories: 1) Body (lake or pond) and 2) Segment (stream or river). The data available for quality of water reflects reporting on heavy metals, bio-hazard waste, and sediment. Using GIS information, The Team identified segments in the Core Counties, and then evaluated stream flow based on 303(d) rankings of L (low) M (medium) or H (high) to weight the overall quality. Comparable data in all Core Counties was collected and estimated total stream flow for the counties was calculated. Estimated stream flow for 303(d) water segments was also collected. Using GIS information, the Team isolated stream segments in the Core Counties, and then weighted the EPA rankings to produce a measurement for this category.
NOTE: The Colorado Department of Health does not test all viable water sources. Because this data only reflects select water segments that are “at risk” for quality to
some degree, the measurement and graph below do not reflect a blanket rating of the overall quality of water in each county. For example, the two water segments in Routt County that are 303(d)-designated by the EPA are Elk Creek in the California Park area and Dry Creek below the Seneca Mine near Hayden. Neither of these two segments are either significant in length or use, i.e. neither is used for recreation or drinking water.
The fact is that Routt County (and possibly other Core Counties as well) has a very good overall water quality, because the primary sources that are used for recreational and drinking purposes have not been determined to be impaired according to the EPA
303(d) List. For the purpose of this Index, this data enables for the tracking of changes over time for the bodies of water within each county which have quality issues. More data will be added and tracked in the Index as it becomes available, i.e. measurement
of sediment, aquatic life, etc