Abstract |
The Region VIII EPA office has proposed upgrading the South Platte River above Denver, Colorado from Class 'A' to Class 'B3' to provide for body-contact water recreation. To determine if the present water quality is within the proposed compliance level (B3-average of 100 fecal coliform/100ml) three field surveys were conducted on a 13 mile reach of the river during different flow conditions and different seasons of the year. Results from these surveys indicate that the proposed upgrading to Class 'B3' is feasible if several abatement actions are taken. A tributary stream, Bear Creek, was found to be highly contaminated with fecal coliform originating from the area of Evergreen, Colorado. |