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<br />, <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br />I <br /> <br />O~2153 <br /> <br />COMMENTS PRESENTED BEFORE STATE WATER COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE <br /> <br />By <br />JOHN PATTERSON OF WOODWARD-CLYDE-SHERARD & ASSOCIATES <br /> <br />On <br />JANUARY 31, 1968 <br /> <br />SALT PROBLEM <br /> <br />t <br /> <br />Every farmer in arid regions recognizes that an excessive <br /> <br />salt concentration in the soil is detrimental to plant growth. It <br /> <br /> <br />is also accepted that some salts are more toxic than others and <br /> <br />that certain plants are able to tolerate high concentration of salts; <br /> <br /> <br />whereas, others are sensitive to low concentrations. <br /> <br /> <br />The toxic effects of salts in reducing plant growth are <br /> <br /> <br />probably caused by one or more of the following: <br /> <br /> <br />(1) A direct physical effect of the salts in preventing <br /> <br /> <br />water intake which is sometimes identified as <br /> <br /> <br />osmosis, <br /> <br />(2) Direct chemical effect of the salts in disturbing <br /> <br /> <br />the metabolism of a plant. <br /> <br /> <br />(3) The indirect effects of salt in damaging the soil <br /> <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />t <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />structure. <br /> <br />In order to obtain a workable plan for the best util ization <br /> <br /> <br />of the water resources of the Arkansas Valley which will protect to <br /> <br /> <br />a reasonable degree, the existing uses, it is necessary that a general <br /> <br />understanding of plant relationships to salted soils be understood. <br /> <br /> <br />Salt concentrations In the Arkansas River increase progressively <br /> <br /> <br />from Pueblo downstream to the State line except during those infrequent <br /> <br /> <br />periods when flooding occurs or water is being released from John <br /> <br /> <br />Martin Reservoir. The most common salts in the Arkansas Valley are <br /> <br /> <br />sal ine and alkal ine in nature. <br /> <br /> <br />A saline soil is usually evidenced by white encrustations <br />