Comparison of Nutrients, pH and Total Suspended Solids in Snow Melt from North and South Facing Slopes in the San Juan Mountain Range of Colorado

Snow melt is a predominant source of water in the mountains of Colorado. Water quality of this snow melt is of ecological significance. Snow cores were collected in the south western comer of Colorado in the San Juan Mountain Range near the town of Silverton on a north-facing slope (elevation 11,200 ft), a south-facing slope twenty miles outside of town (elevation 11,200 ft) and in the town (elevation 9,318 ft). The snow cores (approximately 1 meter in length) were divided into 5 cm sections and placed into plastic Ziploc bags. The snow was melted and the water analyzed for pH, nutrients (ortho and total phosphoms; and nitrate-nitrite nitrogen) and total suspended solids. Due to the direction and deposition of wind carried and blown dust, we hypothesized that the snow from the south-facing slope had the higher levels of nutrients and solids. We will present our data and discuss their environmental implications