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<br />It should be noted that although significant damages occur due to existing Colorado River <br />salinity levels which are below the numeric criteria, this level of damages is viewed as reasonable; <br />and can be tolerated by users in the lower Basin. <br /> <br />t"" <br />o <br />c.0 <br />~;;. <br /> <br />Projections <br /> <br />Future Water DllPletions <br /> <br />One of the significant factors affecting salinity concentrations is water use. Estimates of <br />projected water use through the year 2015 for each of the seven states were developed jointly by <br />the states and Reclamation. Table 2-2 presents a summary of estimated water depletions in the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin, and from the main stem of the Lower Colorado River. <br /> <br />Table 2-2 <br />Summary of Projected Water Depletions in the <br />Colorado River Basin7 <br /> <br /> (I. 000 acre-feet) <br /> 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 <br />Upper Basin8 3.650 3.935 4.103 4.270 4.380 <br />Lower Basin9 7215 7500 7500 7500 7500 <br />Total 10.865 11.435 11,603 11.770 11.880 <br /> <br />Existinl Salinity Conditions' <br /> <br />The goal of the Colorado River salinity control program is to maintain the flow-weighted <br />average annual salinity at or below the numeric criteria. The effort is not, however, intended to <br />counteract the salinity fluctuations that are a result of the highly variable flows caused by short- <br />tenn climatic variations in temperature, precipitation, and snowmelt. Therefore, to evaluate the <br />effectiveness of the salinity control program, salinity data were analyzed and adjusted by removing <br />the effects of these variations to better understand program effectiveness under long-tenn mean <br />water conditions. <br /> <br />7Source: Depletion projections prepared by Basin States for CRSS salinity nms (Oct. 1995), <br /> <br />'Depletions at point of use. Data do not include Colorado River Storage Project reservoir evaporation estimated <br />by Reclamation to average 520,000 acre-feet per year under full development. <br /> <br />"Lower Colorado River main stem only, Diversions from the main stem less returns. Data do not include main <br />stem reservoir evaporation and stream losses. <br /> <br />2-7 <br />