WSP06183

• File Number: 8210.140
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum
• State: CO
• Basin: Western Slope
• Date: 2/22/1971
• Author: Myron B Holburt
• Title: Salinity Problems on the Colorado River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SALINITY PROBLEMS ON THE COLORADO RIVER *
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Myron B. Holburt, Chief Engineer
Colorado River Board of California

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As many are aware, the waters of the Colorado River now have a

large dissolved mineral load which is considerably higher than that

of most major rivers. From recent studies and investigations, we
have concluded that, unless salinity control measures are undertaken,
the river's dissolved mineral content or salinity will substantially
increase in the future.

There is strong evidence that past civilizations that depended

upon irrigated agriculture have faded away due to their inability to

cope with the salinity problems arising from the use of mineralized

waters for irrigation. The time is fast approaching when expensive

measures must be undertaken in the Colorado River Basin in order to

prevent severe economic losses to its water users in the Lower Basin.

The adverse effects of salinity and the reduced yields that

result when soil salinity rises above certain levels for different

irrigated crops have been discussed in technical literature. Soil

salinity is the result of many factors, with one overriding considera-

tion being the salinity of the water used for irrigation. In addi-

tion to the problems caused to the irrigation water users, high

salinity and high hardness cause much difficulty and expense to

domestic and industrial water users.

*Presented to the Irrigation Operators' Workshop, Salt River Project,
PERA Club, Tempe, Arizona, on February 11, 1971