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<br />MAY 1982 <br /> <br />IV. PROBLEMS AND NEEDS <br /> <br />Historical <br /> <br />Salinity ultimately becomes a major problem in many irrigated areas. <br /> <br />Areas with high saline soils, such as southwestern Colorado, has affected <br /> <br />water quality since irrigation was first attempted because the irrigated <br /> <br />land and diffused source areas contain large deposits of salts. Salinity <br /> <br />concentrations in the Colorado River adversely affect downstream irrigated <br /> <br />crop production and other water uses. The problem is especially severe for <br /> <br />water delivered to California, Arizona and Mexico. <br /> <br />The Colorado River system naturally carries a large load of salts <br /> <br />(dissolved solids) and suspended sediment. Streamflow depletions resultinb <br /> <br />from transbasin diversions and for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses <br /> <br />while actually reducing the salt load, significantly reduces the supply of <br /> <br />water available for dilution of salt loads in the lower river system. <br /> <br />Future development of compact apportioned water by the Hasin states will <br /> <br />further reduce the water available for dilution, and in some cases the <br /> <br />development projects themselves may increase salt loadings in the river <br /> <br />system. <br /> <br />Recognition of the water quality problem in the region has caused a <br /> <br />number of studies to be made since 1960. The Colorado River Basin Water <br /> <br />Quality Control Project was established in 1960 by the Division of Water <br /> <br />Supply and Pollution Control, U.S. Public Health Service. Studies by the <br /> <br />Environmental Protection Agency (1971) produced a series of reports on "Tne <br /> <br />Mineral Quality Problem in the Colorado River Basin". Salinity in the river <br /> <br />also is documented by the Bureau of Reclamation (1972 and 1974) Status <br /> <br />Reports - Colorado River Water Quality Improvements Program, and U.S. <br /> <br />Geological Survey Professional Paper 441, "Water Resources of the Upper <br /> <br />n01866 <br />Colorado River Basin - Technical Report" by Iorns and others (196~~ <br /> <br />IV-l <br />