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<br />..~~' <br />, ~. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />c malic changes could make things a whole lot worse,. said Gleick, <br /> <br />Under the: present management &ystem, even modest decreases In runoff would lead <br />t drostlc dcclInc& In the leve~ of the major reservoirs, bIg drops in the generation of <br />hytlroelectriclt)', and CUtbacks In water deliveries to some users. Even tourism and <br />~crcatton could bo affected~ the temperature Increases e~ctcd to occur with the <br />eennouse effect would have major advene effects on the recreational ski Industry in the <br />odcy MountlUns because of a substantial shol1enlllj or the ski seaSOI\ a decline in <br />~ owpack, and a hIgher ratio ot rain to snow. Th~se same tempera.ture Increases could <br />~rease the risk of spring flooding, And wervolt levels could c:qJerlence much larger <br />TctllsdOtU than at present. , <br /> <br />I The greatest problem In the basin Is with water quality, specifically the salt content <br />(9r salinity) of tbe water. Even without cllrrUl1ic ~hanses, salinity standards lU'~ violated <br />r~gularlYI and even slight decreases in runoff would lead to much worse water quality. Even <br />i~ climatic changes were to lncrea$~ overall tilnoff, sallnlty standards will be violated <br />r 1SUIBrlY. <br /> <br />i The study authors recommend that water managers begin to think about ways of <br />r~dUClng tM roka of cllml\tlc chanses in the region. increa51na the ,flexibility of water- <br />d, lIvel"/ systems and laws. and Incorpore.tlng the Iss1.le of the sreenhouse effect Into long- <br />r nge plai1ntna. <br /> <br />I~ Summary <br />I The hydrologic modeling results presented here suggest that large changes in <br />streamflow may occur in the Colorado River Basln as a result at cHmatic changes. Usina <br />sdruitivlty studies and projections from several general ctrcllllltlon n:-odeb, this new study <br />sJsgests that runoff in the hasln Is more likely to decrease than inmMiI, Results of the <br />st~dY suggest that the impact! oe these potentIal changes In sIreamflow would be felt <br />II rougholJt tht basin 1\5 cha~es In water dellverles, reservoir storagt, and hydroeltttricity <br />p odU~Iion. ' , <br /> <br />"We've spent bllllons of dollars bullQlng daIm and institutions to control the natural <br />fl9wS of the Colorado River to protect ourselves from natural droughts and floods, Now, <br />~t\lillly every drop of r{ver water Is spoken tor. As a result, lIny permanent reduction in <br />Ilv,croge flows is bound to adversely afFect some or all User5, and our be~t information $ays <br />thrt some permanent reductions are likely; said Glelck. <br /> <br />I ,This new stud)' sugges" that these c\fects wUl be significant, 'Coping with such <br />d~~ate-lndl\<:ed changes in tM hydroloslc reglnu will therefore require flexiblllty, <br />4=~~~n~'i~ ::t':,~~ltI"l ,.""""', 'hat "'" no' exl.. In \od.y', ,,,,,m .~ wat'c' <br /> <br /> <br />I "The Colorado Ba.~in has seen natural droughts in the p:l.~t as severe as some oC the <br />changes studied here, The d!U$TenCC is tbut climatiC changes caused by the greenbo\lse <br />eftect would be pcrmanertt," $ald PetQr Oleick. , <br /> <br />1 {AITACHED TO THIS RELEASE IS "BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY" AND A <br />: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT'S 'MAJOR FINDINGS, "J <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />! <br /> <br />.:; : ~ ~ ~ :'" ;:.: . . co:,l . ;"" ~ <br /> <br />......~t'I -::tCl""Hl.l": "::1 <br />