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<br />I <br />I <br />I C) <br />~ <br /> ~ <br />I ~ <br />~ <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />SECTION 4 <br /> <br />PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN THE <br />UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />The upper Colorado River Basin, detailed in Figure 2, <br /> <br />is rich in mineral, energy, agricultural and recreational <br /> <br />resources. Consideration of salinity control options <br /> <br />requires that a number of physical conditions be reviewed. <br /> <br /> <br />In the following paragraphs a brief review of the basin's <br /> <br />geology, water supply, present and future developments of <br /> <br />water and energy, and present salinity conditions have been <br /> <br />abstracted from the large body of available information. A <br />summary of planned salinity control projects and their <br />anticipated impact will be presented in the next chapter. <br /> <br />GEOLOGY <br /> <br />The geology of the basin is extremely variable since <br /> <br />the area has been subjected to glaciation, numerous fold- <br /> <br />ings, severe erosion, uplifts and inland seas; and the high <br /> <br />mountain ranges are extremely rugged with many peaks over <br /> <br />4,200 meters. This complex variation is illustrated in <br /> <br />Figure 3. Areas which are not mountainous tend to be <br /> <br />characterized by spectacular eroded sedimentary rock and <br /> <br />desert landscapes of which the Grand Canyon is the most <br /> <br />noted example. <br /> <br />The mountains are formed primarily of igneous and very <br /> <br />old metamorphic rock. In general, the water leaving the <br />