2003

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 2003
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: Progress Report No. 12,
• Copyright Material: NO

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Summary

Part I

Part II

Part III

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Part IV

Part V

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CONTENTS

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Introduction. . . . . . . . .
A. Authorization for report. . . . . . . . . . .
B. Previous reports and cooperating agencies . . . .
C. Legal aspects. . . . . . . . . . .
1. Water quantity. . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Water quality . . . . . . . . . . .

Description of basin. . ... .
A. Climate. . . . . . . . . .
B. Hydrology. . . f .
C. Reservoir storage.
D. Geology and soils .

Causes and impacts of salinity.
A. Increased concentration from salt additions . . .
1. Natural sources of salinity. . . . . . . . .
2. Agricultural sources of salinity. . .
3. Municipal and industrial sources of
salini ty. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
~ncreased concentration from water depletions
Effects of water quality on water users .
1. Recreation, esthe~ics, and fisheries. . .
2. Economic. . . . . . ~ . . . . .

, .

B.

C.

Colorado River water quality assessment . . . . .
A. Wyoming. . . . . .

B. Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C. Colorado. . . . . . . . . .
D. Arizona. . . . . . .
E. Nevada. . . . . . .
F. California. .
G. New Mexico.

. . . "

Historical and present salinity conditions. .
A. Quality of water records. . . . . . . . . . .
B. Historical salinity . . . . . . . . . .
C. Factors in salinity trends. ..... . .
1. Hydrologic conditions. ....
2. Reservoir effects . . . . . . . .
3. Irrigation and increased depletions.
4. Reduced flood plains. . . . . . . . .
5. Potential new sources of salt loading
6. Method of chemical analysis ....
7. Salinity control projects. . . . . .
8. Erosion. . . . . . . .
9. Geochemistry. . . . . . . . . . . .

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