Data summary and loading sources for selected water-quality characteristics of streams in blowdown areas, North Fork Elk River Watershed, Colorado, March 1999-August 2000

Abstract

On October 25, 1997, in and around the Routt National Forest and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, a winter snowstorm occurred in conjunction with heavy winds that resulted in the destruction of thousands of acres of old-growth tree stands. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, collected water-quality data at five sites in the North Fork Elk River watershed where most of the blowdown occurred. In this report, these data are used to characterize water quality in areas affected by the blowdown compared to that of relatively undisturbed areas. No difference was detected between loads of the selected constituents from the five water-quality sampling sites.