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<br /> <br />w <br />w <br /><::> <br />S) <br /> <br /> <br />Upper Colorado Region Co~rehensivc Framework Study (h~C) <br /> <br />This report by the h'ater Resources Counei 1 dated June 1971 states <br /> <br />that salinity is the most serious water quality prohlem in the <br /> <br />Colorado River Basin. Salt-loadinR and salt-concentrating effects <br /> <br />of consunptive use or depletion are the primary causes of salinity <br /> <br />increases. Salt loading principally results from salts contributed <br /> <br />from diffuse and point sources of geologic orifin and from salts <br /> <br />carried in irrigation return flows. <br /> <br />Future dissolved solids concentrations were estimated for 1980. <br /> <br />2000. and 2020. The TDS concentration at Lees Ferry. Arizona. <br /> <br />assuming no salinity improvement pror.ram. is projected at 820 mg/l <br /> <br />for the year 2020. or 40 percent greater than the 1965 concentra_ <br /> <br /> <br />tion. TIle major cause of the projected salinity increase is con- <br /> <br />tinued development of the region. It includes the additional stream <br /> <br />depIctions for irrigation. thermal power production and export. and <br /> <br />the additional salt leached from ne~ly irrigated lands. <br /> <br />State and Federal representatives in both the upper and lower <br /> <br />Colorado res:ions agreed that the salinity ittprovcncnt programs <br /> <br />outlined in the Uppcr and Lo~er Colorado Framework Study uocuments <br /> <br />would he part of a has in-wide approach to salinity nanas:cment. <br /> <br />The salinity improvement program consists of a salt-loading reduction <br /> <br />21 <br /> <br />