RATING AMERICA'S LAKES AND RIVERS
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Back to the Water Studies
Below is a listing of the lakes and rivers rated by the
TransAmerica Explorers in the summer of I997. The water quality index
is a combined measure of four factors necessary for life in America's
Waters: dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, and acidity.
Each factor was measured using scientific probeware. An Index Quality
score of 100 is perfect. It should be noted that water quality can be
affected by spontaneous changes such as rain, spills, temperatures,
etc. which may distort data taken once at a location.
Top Lake or River in America: Water Quality
Index
Pecos River, New Mexico 76.4
Next Lakes or Rivers in Order of
Quality
Ellery Lake, Yosemite National Park, California 75.8
Snake River, Wyoming 75.5
Green River, Wyoming 74.2
Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming 72.4
Ohio River, West Virginia 70.8
Lake Tahoe, Nevada 70.6
Yellowstone River, Wyoming 70.1
Cheyenne River, South Dakota 70.1
Jackson Lake, Wyoming 68.9
Missouri River, South Dakota 68.5
Buffalo Bill Resevoir on the Shoshone River, Wyoming 64.3
Blue Lake, Onawa, Iowa 62.5
Mississippi River, Tennessee 56.02
Rio Grande River, New Mexico 54.02
Pinwheel Geyser, Norris, Yellowstone, Wyoming 40.4
Great Salt Lake, Utah 40.1
Thurber Lake, Abilene, Texas 35.28
