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-.1 The salinity of the Colorado River is influenced by a number of factors, both natural and man-made, including: natural sources of salinity, the volume and pattern of flow of the river, the volume of storage in each of the system reservoirs and the type and quantity of water utilized from and returned to the river and its tributaries. "', w ...J In developing the numeric criteria and plan of implementa- tion for salinity control a series of salt routing studies was conducted by the Forum to provide estimates of future salinity levels at selected points in the Basin under different assump- tions as to both the available water supply and future water use. The studies were designed to provide estimates of salinity con- ditions with and without salinity control measures during the period 1974 through 1990. Initial conditions of reservoir storage and salinity for the studies were those of 1973. These initial conditions represent the integrated effects of historical basin development, depletions and water supply through 1973. The salinity studies were carried out through the use of a computer model developed by R. W. Ribbens of the Bureau of Reclamation. To evaluate future possible salinity levels, a number of water supply conditions and future depletion rates, developed by the Work Group, were considered. Five water supply levels-- virgin flows of 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 million acre-feet per year at Lee Ferry--and three future depletion rates--low, moderate, and high--were employed. These studies indicated that 1990 salinities cannot be maintained at 1972 levels at any of the lower mainstem stations without the salinity control measures identified in the plan. However, with full implementation of all identified salinity control measures, 1990 salinities can be maintained at or below 1972 salinities for the following water supply and depletion rates: 2