WSP11534

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1991
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 15 - January 1991
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Contents

::.;:. Summary ............................ ...... .... .... .......... .................. ............ ...,.................... .... ...... ......... .............. 1
Chapter 1. Introduction .-........ .... .... ...... ........ .................... ..................................... ........ .................. 1
Authoriz.ation for Report.................... ................ ................................ ............ ........ .................. 1
Legal Aspects .... .... ........ .............. .......... .... .... ........., ............... ..... .......... ...... .... ....................... 2
\VateT Quanity .............. .......... ............ ...... ...... .... ................."........ ...... ...................... ...... 2
\Vater Quality............ .......... .... .... .......................... .............. ........h ...... ............ .......... ...... 2
Chapter 2. Description of Basin...................................................................................... ................ 5
Climate ......................................................................................................................... 5
Hydrology ........ .............. .................. .......... ........................ ................ ........................ ....... 5
Reservoir Storage .......... .......... .... .......... .... ..............h.... ................. ...... .... .............. .................. 6
Geology And Soils.................. .................. .......... .... ........................................... ........ ................ 6
Chapter 3. Colorado River Water Quality Assessment..............................h................................. 9
Irrigation Drainage Toxicity Studies ...................... ...... .............. ........ .... .... .......... ............ ...... 9
Middle Green River Basin, Utah ..h............................................................................... 10
Lower Colorado and Gila River Valleys ......................................................................... 10
Middle GWlnison River Study ........................................................................................ 11
Dolores River Drainage ........ .......... .................................. ............................................... 12
Navajo (Upper San Juan River) ..................................................................................... 12
Pine River Study........................................h.................................................................... 12
Main Stem Reservoir Quality ........................................................................h........h.............. 12
Chapter 4. Causes and Impacts of Salinity ......................................................h............................ 15
Causes of Salinity.......... .............. ....h........................ ........ ....................................................... 15
Natural Sources of Salinity............ .......... ...................... .................... ............................. 15
Agricultural Sources of Salinity.......... ................ .................... ....................................... 15
Municipal and Industrial Sources of Salinity ................................................................ 16
Increased Salinity from Water Depletions.............................................................h...... 16
Effects of Water Quality on Water Users ............................................................................... 17
Recreation, Asthetics, and Fisheries.. .......... ............ .......... ........ .................. .......,...... ,... 17

Economic ........................ .... ...,............ ................,........... .......,.... ........ ...................... ....... 17
Health ........................................................................h....... ....................................... 18
Chapter 5. Historical Salinity Conditions...................................................................................... 19
1-.1ethods ............ .................. .... ...................................... .............................. ................... 19
Historical Salinity '.....h..'............................................................. ...................... .................. .... 19
Factors in Salinity Trends ...... .......... ............................................................. .......................... 19
Hydrologic Conditions .......................................... ........ ........................... ........................ 19
Reservoir Effects...................... ...... ............h ............ ............................ .................. .......... 21
Irrigation and Increased Depletions ........................................,..................................... 22
Reduced Flood Plains ........................................ ........ .................................... .................. 23
Energy Exploration and Development ............ ........ ...... ........ ............ ............................. 23
Salinity Control Projects ............ ...... ,................................................ .............................. 24
Erosion ............................ ........................................................................ ..................... 24
Geochemistry .......... ................ .... ................ ................................. .................. .................. 25
Chapter 6. Present and Future Development................................................................................ 27
Upper Basin Depletions.................................................. ................................... ...................... 27
Arizona ........................................ ........................................................ .................. ....... 27
Miscellaneous Additional Depletions .................................................................... 27
Navajo Powerplant ................................................................................................. 27
Gallup.Navajo Indian Water Supply Project (temporary) ................................... 31

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