Water Quality along the San Juan River

The San Juan River is valued as a source of water to the Colorado River, a spot for recreation and cultural significance, and a home to many native species. Everything and everyone dependent on the river relies on the quality of the river being safe to use. It is important that water quality is continuously monitored to understand the health and composition of the river, and for further research to be conducted to best understand how to preserve the San Juan and other rivers. This study looks at the effect of a summer monsoon on levels of turbidity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, pH, coliform, and water temperature compared to water quality seen in normal weather and flow conditions. These water quality assessments were completed using a Lamotte Low Cost Water Quality Monitoring kit, and were completed along
the Lower San Juan over a seven day period. The results show an increase in turbidity, nitrate, and water temperature, a decrease in dissolved oxygen and phosphate, and stagnant trends in pH and coliform. These results suggest that the monsoon event, although only lasting for a few hours, had a substantial impact on the water quality of the river.