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<br />81JMMARY <br /> <br />o <br />~, <br />o <br />,... <br /> <br />This water quality study was initiated, in the summer of 1993 <br /> <br />to investigate the impact of the Colo~ado River salinity Control <br /> <br />. <br />Program on, the' water quality and salt load of McElmo Creek. <br /> <br />Activities included: ,(1) Water quality analyses of McElmo Creek <br /> <br />once a month; (2) Analysis of previous, years' water quality data <br /> <br /> <br />collected by the u.s. Geological survey; (3) Water quality analysis <br /> <br />of the irrigation water at various locations withi~ the salinity <br /> <br />unit. <br /> <br />The results of water quality analyses shows,a decrease in salt <br />content in McElmo Creek since implementation of the salinity-, <br /> <br />program. <br /> <br />Water quality data collected by the u.s. Geological <br /> <br />Survey from 1982 to 1992, along with our data, were used to <br />evaluate the salt load in McElmo Creek. The salt content of McElmo <br />Creek from May to December of the 1982 to 1988 period was 61,543 <br />tons compared to 45,619 tons during the same period in 1993. Water <br />analyses show that calcium and magnesium are the most dominant <br /> <br />salts. <br /> <br />Analyses of Dolores River irrigation water and return flow <br /> <br />show a high content of calcium and magnesium carbonates. <br /> <br />However, <br />-. <br /> <br />the return flow salt content was higher than in the irrigation <br /> <br />water. Results show low sodium concentration in both irrigation <br /> <br />and return flows. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />~;:i:;~~j:t::. <br />--:~/,~';.:--:Y <br /> <br />.... <br />"" <br />$'::.;':<~::"; <br />-..:~.;- -.:-~;..., <br /> <br />