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(~ l'- .... ':::> (~::> c.~ 58,93 inches annually, with monthly averages to 6,81 inches. Grand Junction receives inches annually (see Ruffner and Bair, 1977), ranging from 2.99 an average of 8.5 This is significant for two reasons. First, net transpiration in Colorado will be higher than in Louisiana, Second, this information makes it clear that salt marsh plant species are pre-adapted to rapid fluxuations in salinity, As of 1977, the maximum amount of rainfall experienced in New Orleans in a 24 hour period was 9,86 inches (see Ruffner and Bair, 1977), Many of its salt marshes are considerably more shallow than this rainfall level, indicating, at a minimum, these plants a~e able to tolerate shifts from near seawater salinities to half that amount without osmotic destruction, SECTION TWO: BOTANICAL CONSIDERATIONS Three biological processes must function efficiently to maximize the overall effectiveness of the STEP technology. First, the candidate plant must be able to grow and reproduce in the Grand Junction region in order to make beneficial use of Glenwood Springs saline water. To accomplish this, the plant must be able to photosynthesize efficiently in saline waters and produ~e sufficient energy to maintain growth and salt balance, Second, the plant needs to actively transpire against a high salt concentration gradient within the ground, This will allow salt concentrating to be accomplished by the plant to levels that make brine transport and disposal more economical, Third, the plant needs to continue to synthesize compounds that are valuable to the nutrition of livestock, This mandates that mechanisms must exist within the plant to protect sensitive pathways and enzymes from salt degradation, This section will address these considerations, recognizing that much needs be be inferred on the basis of documented observations. An overview is p~ovided, showing how each of these processes is interdependent, The subsequent analysis focuses on process implications specific to Grand Junction region, defined here as lands proximate to the Colorado River between the the airpo~ts of Eagle and Grand Junction, The output of the analysis is the expections of how well salt tolerant emergent plants can perform in this region, A, Photosynthesis. Metabolism and Transpiration Figure 4 schematically illustrates the interrelationships between photosynthesis, metabolism, and transpiration, emphasizing the movement and transformation of materials through the structural components of a plant, Nutrients and water. absorbed through the roots, and carbon dioxide, captured within 11 .