WSP07419

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1973
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 6 - January 1973
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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:;PECL-\L STUDlill

Se..':lples/Week
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Colorado River at Parker !Ja-:.
:{ea.dgate Rock Diversion Da:n
Poston .";aste-..ra",v
Colorado River at rvvD
CRIR Levee DraL'1
CRrn Lower ;.!a.in Drain
Colorado River at Taylor ?errJ
Palo Verde Out~al1 Drain
Colora1o River at the Cibola Gage
Colorado River at I=perial D~~

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This data collection progra~ is being continued. In addition, the
latest saliniv~ monitoring equipment is being tested on a trial basis to
determine its application to conditions along the Lower Colorado River.
Data from the progratl. are being llsed to develop a prediction model o:f
salinity move::nent in the river. Such a :--.odel will be valua.ble in helping
to improve operati~nal procedures for better salinity control.

The U.S. Geological Survey made 11 salinity study of the Lower Colo-
rado River Basin and presented it in professional paper 486-E, "Salinity
of Surface Water in the Lo....-er Colorado River _ Salton Sea Aren," by
Burdge Irelan. dated 1971. The report shows that during the period
1926-62 the che.Tllcal regimen of the Col')rado Ri'."er at Grand Canyon and
upstrea.'":l. although probably sO!:lcwhat different fro~ the virgin regimen,
"'''as relatively stable. There may have been s:-sall increases in average
!tineral concentrations, particularly toward the end of the period, caused
by construction of reservoirs, increased irrigation and out-o~-basin
di versions. The research also found that most of the mineral burden of
the Colorado :l:iver originates in the Upper Basin. The largest individual
incr~ent to the mineral burden of the Colorado River below the compact
point and above Imperial Da was found ~o be Blue Sp?"mgs near the mouth
of the Little Color&io River. The report also shows that cultivated
la.~ds in Parker and Palo Verde Valleys and increasing out-of-basin diVer-
sions contribute to increasin~ salinity in the lower reaches of the
river.

D. Irri~~ted PIeas

Studies have been ::ade in several 81'eas to deter::::dne irrigation
effects on ".:iter quality. Three of these '.ro!"tb.-J. of !:lention are the
Vernal, Gr~~d Valley. and Florida Project areas and are described L~
the follo~~ng paragraphs:

1. Vernal Area

A cooperative stud,.v entitled "-,..rater~ality Pre:iiction Investigations"
is tmder..--a:,' bet-..-ee:. the Bureau of Recla.":1ation a.>1d ::-FA to develop a technique

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