Analysis of annual dissolved-solids loading from selected natural and irrigated catchments in the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1974-2003

Kenney, Terry A.; Gerner, Steven J.; Buto, Susan G.

doi:10.3133/sir20125090

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

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“…Potential reasons for differing rates of change between the two decades might include differences in the timing of SCP implementation, lag times associated with stream response to SCP implementation, variations in climate, changes to the landscape, or other unknown factors (Anning et al, ; Butler, ; Kenney, Gerner, & Buto, ). In Colorado, all large (>100,000 mT reduction goal) SCPs were implemented in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which might have led to the 9% reduction in load that was observed at the Colorado River at Cisco for the 1990s, whereas only a 3% decrease was observed during the 2000s.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Rumsey

Miller

Schwarz

et al. 2017

Hydrological Processes

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Salinity has a major effect on water users in the Colorado River Basin, estimated to cause almost $300 million per year in economic damages. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program implements and manages projects to reduce salinity loads, investing millions of dollars per year in irrigation upgrades, canal projects, and other mitigation strategies. To inform and improve mitigation efforts, there is a need to better understand sources of salinity to streams and how salinity has changed over time. This study explores salinity in the baseflow fraction of streamflow, assessing whether groundwater is a significant contributor of dissolved solids to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). Chemical hydrograph separation was used to estimate baseflow discharge and baseflow dissolved solids loads at stream gages (n = 69) across the UCRB. On average, it is estimated that 89% of dissolved solids loads originate from the baseflow fraction of streamflow, indicating that subsurface transport processes play a dominant role in delivering dissolved solids to streams in the UCRB. A statistical trend analysis using weighted regressions on time, discharge, and season was used to evaluate changes in baseflow dissolved solids loads in streams (n = 27) from 1986 to 2011. Decreasing trends in baseflow dissolved solids loads were observed at 63% of streams. At the three most downstream sites, Green River at Green River, UT, Colorado River at Cisco, UT, and the San Juan River near Bluff, UT, baseflow dissolved solids loads decreased by a combined 823,000 metric tons (mT), which is approximately 69% of projected basin‐scale decreases in total dissolved solids loads as a result of salinity control efforts. Decreasing trends in baseflow dissolved solids loads suggest that salinity mitigation projects, landscape changes, and/or climate are reducing dissolved solids transported to streams through the subsurface. Notably, the pace and extent of decreases in baseflow dissolved solids loads declined during the most recent decade; average decreasing loads during the 2000s (28,200 mT) were only 54% of average decreasing loads in the 1990s (51,700 mT).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Rumsey

Miller

Schwarz

et al. 2017

Hydrological Processes

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Development of a decision-making methodology to design a water quality monitoring network

Keum

Kaluarachchi

2015

Environ Monit Assess

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The number of water quality monitoring stations in the USA has decreased over the past few decades. Scarcity of observations can easily produce prediction uncertainty due to unreliable model calibration. An effective water quality monitoring network is important not only for model calibration and water quality prediction but also for resources management. Redundant or improperly located monitoring stations may cause increased monitoring costs without improvement to the understanding of water quality in watersheds. In this work, a decision-making methodology is proposed to design a water quality monitoring network by providing an adequate number of monitoring stations and their approximate locations at the eight-digit hydrologic unit codes (HUC8) scale. The proposed methodology is demonstrated for an example at the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), where salinity is a serious concern. The level of monitoring redundancy or scarcity is defined by an index, station ratio (SR), which represents a monitoring density based on water quality load originated within a subbasin. By comparing the number of stations from a selected target SR with the available number of stations including the actual and the potential stations, the suggested number of stations in each subbasin was decided. If monitoring stations are primarily located in the low salinity loading subbasins, the average actual SR tends to increase, and vice versa. Results indicate that the spatial distribution of monitoring locations in 2011 is concentrated on low salinity loading subbasins, and therefore, additional monitoring is required for the high salinity loading subbasins. The proposed methodology shows that the SR is a simple and a practical indicator for monitoring density.

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Analysis of annual dissolved-solids loading from selected natural and irrigated catchments in the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1974-2003

Abstract: Bar chart showing correlation coefficients computed between normalized annual dissolved solids-loads and normalized annual monthly (April through October) average maximum temperature for irrigated catchments in the Upper Colorado

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin

The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Development of a decision-making methodology to design a water quality monitoring network

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