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<br />amount of dilution water available for a given amount of <br /> <br />..... <br />(.'1 <br />OJ <br />CD <br /> <br />salt. <br /> <br />Specifically, salt loading in the Colorado River system <br /> <br />results in the addition of mineral salts from natural and <br /> <br />manmade sources. <br /> <br />Salt concentration results in the rise in <br /> <br />salinity through beneficial consumptive use of waters and <br /> <br />associated streamflow depletions in the Basin that <br /> <br />concentrate the salt burden into a lesser volume of water, <br /> <br />Generally, the application of irrigation water results in <br /> <br />increased salt loading because of salt leaching and <br /> <br />concentrating effects of consumptive use. <br /> <br />The total salt <br /> <br />concentration in the river fluctuates annually with the <br /> <br />overall Basin water supply, <br /> <br />The Colorado River, at its headwaters in the mountains of <br /> <br />north-central Colorado, has a salinity (dissolved minerals) <br /> <br />concentration of only about 50 mg/L, The salinity <br /> <br />concentrations progressively increase downstream as a <br /> <br />result of water diversion and salt contributions from a <br /> <br />variety of sources, Recent record high flows have flushed <br /> <br />and filled the major reservoirs, resulting in significantly <br /> <br />lower salinity levels at Imperial Dam--from an annual <br /> <br />average of 826 mg/L in 1982 to 670 mg/L (provisional) in <br /> <br />1984, Without control measures, however, the concentration <br /> <br />is projected to increase, following the overall rising <br /> <br />2 <br />