Surface-Water Salinity in the Gunnison River Basin, Colorado, Water Years 1989 through 2007

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Overview

Elevated concentrations of dissolved mineral salts or dissolved solids in water (salinity) can result in numerous and costly issues for agricultural, industrial, and municipal water users and managers. These issues include the suitability of the water for various uses, changes in taste and odor, and corrosion of infrastructures. Agricultural losses can occur when salinity concentrations reach 700-850 milligrams per liter (Butler and von Guerard, 1996). Annually, more than 6 million tons of dissolved solids are discharged from the Colorado River Basin upstream from Lees Ferry, Arizona. Agricultural activities contribute 40-45 percent of the load while the remainder is attributed to domestic use, municipal use, and natural sources (Kenney and others, 2009). Some authors have suggested that the contribution from domestic and municipal sources is negligible in some areas (Iorns and others, 1965; Kenney and others, 2009).