WSPC01779

• File Number: 8272
• Description: Colorado River - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - CRBSCP
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/1/1989
• Title: Salinity Update - February 1989
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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THE PROBLEM 2

High salinity concentrations
result from two general processes:
salt loading and salt concentration.
Salt loading increases the amount of
salt added to a given amount of
water, and salt concentration
decreases the amount of dilution
water available for a given amount
of salt.

Specifically, salt loading in the
Colorado River system results in the
addition of mineral salts from
natural and manmade sources. Salt
concentration results in the rise in
salinity through beneficial
consumptive use of waters and
associated streamflow dl lletions in
the Basin that concentrate the salt
burden into a lesser volume of
waler. Generally. the application of
irrigation water results in increased
salt loading because of salt leaching
and the concentrating effects of
consumptive use. The total salt
concentration in the river fluctuates
annually with the overall Basin
water supply.

A
, 1000

950

m
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.
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Sta/'ld.....d

900 ............

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o
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m

75"

700

m
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I
L

650

The Colorado River, at its
headwaten; in the mountains of
north-central Colorado, has a
salinity (dissolved minerals)
concentration of only about
50 mg/L (milligrams per liter). The
salinity concentrations
progressively increase as the river
flows downstream as a result of
water diversion, evaporation from
reservoirs, and salt contributions
from a variety of sources. Recent
record-high flows have flushed and
filled the major reservoirs, resultit
in significantly lower salinity level
at Imperial Dam - from an annual
average of 826 mg/L in 1982 to
621 mg/L (provisional) in 1987.
Without control measures, however,
the concentration is projected to
increase, following the overall rising
trend shown in figure 2, possibly
reaching a level of 966 mg/L. at
Imperial Dam by about 2010.

. The current projection is from 1988
Evaluation of Salinity Control Programs
in the Colorado River Basin.

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1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
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Figure 2. - Salinity projections with and without further controls 10/88.