Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I. <br />I. <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />3750 <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />Both the USGS and EPA reports attempt to account for the <br />salt load by source for the Colorado River mainstem at Cameo. <br />The EPA report attributed more of the total salt yield to natural <br />sources. <br /> <br />USGS <br /> <br />Man Caused <br />Natural <br /> <br />23.1% <br />76.9% <br /> <br />EPA <br /> <br />Man Caused <br />Natural <br /> <br />11.7% <br />88.3% <br /> <br />The various investigations of salt contributions by thermal <br />springs in the Glenwood-Dotsero area have produced consistent <br />conclusions. There is, however, a conflict between the EPA and <br />USGS accounts of man caused sources in this basin. The USGS <br />attributed over twice as much of the total basin salt yield to <br />irrigated agriculture as did the EPA. The EPA apparently made <br />this difference up by attributing a larger portion of the total <br />salt load to industrial effluents and natural runoff. <br /> <br />An examination of streamflow and water quality data at the <br />Cameo station for water years 1914 to the present identifies a <br />fairly constant average annual salt load. The average annual <br />salt load at Cameo for water years 1966-80 is 1,518,000 tons. <br /> <br />GRAND VALLEY SUBBASIN <br /> <br />The Colorado River mainstem between Cameo and the state line <br />and excluding the Gunnison River Basin encompasses 1,870 square <br />miles. A major portion of the area is within the valley carved <br />by the Colorado River and is bounded on the north and west by the <br />Roan and Book Cliffs and on the east by the Grand Mesa. <br /> <br />-18- <br />