Local data effort continues tracking water quality in Mesa County waterways
Local water quality monitoring will continue in Leach Creek and Adobe Creek as Mesa County and regional partners work to better understand conditions in area waterways.
On March 10, the Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement not to exceed $108,691 with Wright Water Engineers to continue water sampling and analysis as part of the county’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) monitoring program.
The monitoring focuses on waterways north of the Colorado River, where the state has identified concerns related to selenium, iron and E. coli.
Water quality standards set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment guide how communities manage stormwater and watershed impacts.
Collecting reliable local data helps Mesa County and its partners understand conditions in the watershed and respond to state permit requirements using sound science.
The monitoring program includes:
- Regular water sampling and laboratory testing
- Evaluation of water quality trends
- Annual reporting to regulatory agencies
- Development of an adaptive management plan to guide future mitigation efforts
The monitoring effort is shared by several local partners, including the City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Mesa County Valley School District 51 and Grand Valley Water Users Association.
Costs for the program are shared among participating partners.
Continuing this work helps ensure that future water quality decisions are informed by locally collected data and scientific analysis, providing a clearer understanding of watershed conditions across the region.
