Selected hydrologic data for the south Platte River through Denver, Colorado

Spahr, Norman E.; Blakely, S.R.; Hammond, Stephen E.

doi:10.3133/ofr84703

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…T A B L E 1 For sites on or tributary to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, sampling site names, numbers, short names, distance downstream from most upstream site, and estimated water velocity for the stream segment that is upstream from the site [S., South; CO, Colorado; NE, not estimated; Y, yes; N, no]. Estimated water velocity from Spahr et al (1985) and U.S. Geological…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This time of travel was calculated as the distance in river kilometers between sites divided by the estimated velocity of water for that stream segment (in kilometers per hour). Spahr et al (1985) provided estimates of river kilometer distances between sampling sites on the South Platte River, and estimates of water travel times between those sites and distances between sites on the Cherry Creek were estimated using a geographic information system. At sites with active streamgages on the South Platte River and the Cherry Creek, periodic field discharge measurements include estimates of both streamflow and average water velocity (U.S. Geological Survey, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two sources indicated similar water velocities during low‐flow conditions. The water velocity estimates from Spahr et al (1985) were used for the South Platte River between the Chatfield Reservoir and the South Platte at 50th Avenue in Denver, CO (SP28), and velocities from the regression equations were used for the South Platte downstream from SP28 and for the Cherry Creek. Average water velocities between sites without active streamgages were set equal to the velocity estimated at the closest downstream active streamgage.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying nutrient sources and sinks to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Denver, CO, during low‐flow conditions in 2019–2020

Battaglin

Chapin

2022

River Research & Apps

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Elevated concentrations and loads of nutrients in the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver, Colorado, may have adverse effects on those streams and downstream water bodies, including increased production of algae, eutrophication, and decreased recreational opportunities. This article describes streamflow and concentrations and loads of nutrients for the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver based on data collected during two longitudinal Lagrangian sampling campaigns in low-flow conditions in fall of 2019 and 2020. The results are used to assess sources and sinks of nutrients in the study area and help to establish baseline conditions against which future changes in nutrient concentrations and loads can be assessed. Discharges from Chatfield and Cherry Creek Reservoirs, storm drains, and most tributaries to the South Platte River, and Cherry Creek were generally small sources of streamflow and nutrient loads in both years. The Marcy Gulch, South Platte Water Renewal, and Robert W. Hite wastewater treatment plants were larger sources of streamflow and nutrient loads. The BurlingtonDitch was a sink for streamflow and nutrient loads, diverting more than 95% of the South Platte River during the two sampling campaigns. Most other sinks were associated with decreases in streamflow between sampling sites. Golf courses were a potential source of nutrients for Cherry Creek but not for the South Platte River.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying nutrient sources and sinks to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Denver, CO, during low‐flow conditions in 2019–2020

Battaglin

Chapin

2022

River Research & Apps

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A selected bibliography on the hydrology of the Platte River basin in Nebraska through 1991

Hardgree¹,

McChesney²

1995

Open-File Report

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to provide a sound, scientific understanding of the primary natural and human factors affecting the quality of these resources (Huntzinger, 1991). In meeting these long-term goals, the program provides water-quality information that will be useful to policy makers and managers at the national, state, and local levels. Sixty study units were identified for water-quality assessment activities. These study units generally correspond to the major river basins throughout the United States (fig. 1). The Central Nebraska Basins study unit was one of the initial 20 started in fiscal year 1991 (Leahy and others, 1990). This study unit includes the Platte River and its tributaries from the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers at North Platte, Nebraska, downstream to the Missouri River north of Omaha (fig. 2). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region VII, initiated the Platte River Ecosystem Management Initiative (PREMI) in 1990(Elfving, 1992). The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has since joined the USEPA in this effort to address ways in which the Platte River and its ecosystem can be protected and enhanced through improved water-quality management. The focus of the USEPA and the NDEQ in the PREMI is on water quality of the river, its associated riparian areas, and its alluvial aquifer. The goals of the PREMI program are to enhance, maintain, and expand, as necessary, efforts to protect water quality, public health, and the environment in the Platte River Basin of Nebraska through comprehensive and integrated Federal, State, and local environmental program management and implementation. The PREMI study area includes all of the Platte River Basin that is in Nebraska. To help facilitate the current and future waterquality assessment of the USGS's Central Nebraska Basins study unit and the USEPA's Platte River study area, a search of the scientific literature was performed, and more than 1,000 citations of published or unpublished reports, pamphlets, Introduction 1 Sources of Literature Citations 3 records, including dissertations and theses, and is used by almost 14,000 libraries for cataloging purposes (OCLC Online Union Catalog, 1991).

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Simulation of water quality and the effects of wastewater effluent on the South Platte River from Chatfield Reservoir through Denver, Colorado

Paschal¹,

Mueller²

1991

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Projected increases in population and discharges of wastewater effluent in the Denver metropolitan area makes compliance with water-quality standards increasingly difficult and necessitates controlling discharges of wastewater effluent to the South Platte River. In 1989, the State of Colorado adopted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's QUAL2E water-quality model as the preferred method for estimating effects of effluent on Colorado rivers. The Denver Regional Council of Governments entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey to use the QUAL2E model to evaluate the effects of wastewater effluent on the South Platte River from Chatfield Reservoir through Denver during low-streamflow conditions. Streamflow, dissolved-solids concentration, 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBODs), and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen species were simulated for the river reach and for the Bear Creek and Cherry Creek tributaries. The QUAL2E simulation model was compared to the previously verified U.S. Geological Survey water quality (USGS-QW) simulation model for a 14.5-river-mile reach of the South Platte River from the Littleton streamflowgaging station to the streamflow-gaging station at 50th Avenue in Denver. Verification and simulation results for both models were similar for streamflow, dissolved-solids concentrations, and CBOD 5 ; however, concentrations of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen species were different. The QUAL2E program and reaction coefficients were modified to obtain a satisfactory fit to the measured values. The QUAL2E model data set then was revised to include a 4.5-river-mile reach that extended upstream from Littleton to the regulation dam at Chatfield Reservoir, the Bear Creek and Cherry Creek tributaries, and the Centennial and Glendale Wastewater Treatment Plants. The revised model then was recalibrated for the 19-river-mile reach. Critically low-streamflow conditions were simulated for 1989 and 2010. The simulations for 2010 included wastewater-treatment-plant effluent volumes and constituent concentrations. Simulations indicated that predicted CBOD 5 was about 1.5 to about 15 milligrams per liter greater in the South Platte River for 2010 conditions than for 1989 conditions; predicted dissolved-oxygen concentrations were similar; predicted total ammonia (as nitrogen) concentrations were about 0.2 to about 1.1 milligrams per liter greater upstream from the Bi-City Wastewater Treatment Plant and were about 0.7 to about 10 milligrams per liter less downstream from the plant; and predicted total nitrate (as nitrogen) concentrations were about 0.7 to about 6 milligrams per liter greater for 2010 conditions. Onsite measurements of specific conductance, pH, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen were made when each water-quality sample was collected. Reaeration coefficients were measured in selected reaches to evaluate methods of estimating reaeration coefficients. Reaeration-coefficient estimates used in the model were calculated by an equation developed b...

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Selected hydrologic data for the south Platte River through Denver, Colorado

Cited by 3 publications

References 1 publication

Identifying nutrient sources and sinks to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Denver, CO, during low‐flow conditions in 2019–2020

Identifying nutrient sources and sinks to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Denver, CO, during low‐flow conditions in 2019–2020

A selected bibliography on the hydrology of the Platte River basin in Nebraska through 1991

Simulation of water quality and the effects of wastewater effluent on the South Platte River from Chatfield Reservoir through Denver, Colorado

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