Ecological Health & Function
CATEGORY: Water Quality
Dissolved Oxygen Indicator
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of free oxygen present in the water column, and is important for the survival of fish and other aquatic species.
Dissolved Oxygen score by Riverscape
Did You Know?
What is a non-consumptive water use? It is water in the river and on the floodplain that supports riparian processes and floodplain functions, aesthetics and quality of life, fish and wildlife resources, and recreation without using any of it (David Graf, CO Division of Parks & Wildlife, 2012). Non-consumptive water rights include in-stream flow rights, recreational in-channel diversions (RICDs), and other environmental flow deliveries through leased water such as water releases for endangered fish flow targets.
In order to receive an “A” for this indicator, a river segment must both have a non-consumptive water right AND be consistently meeting the flow requirements of that non-consumptive water right.