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USGS Water Resource Monitoring and Assessment Activities

USGS Water Resource Monitoring and Assessment Activities. Salinity and other topics presented to the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board Dec. 1, 2005 Paul von Guerard Kirby Wynn U.S. Geological Survey Grand Junction, CO. USGS Water Mission Statement.

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USGS Water Resource Monitoring and Assessment Activities

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  1. USGS Water Resource Monitoring and Assessment Activities Salinity and other topics presented to the Garfield County Energy Advisory BoardDec. 1, 2005 Paul von Guerard Kirby Wynn U.S. Geological Survey Grand Junction, CO

  2. USGS Water Mission Statement • To provide reliable, impartial, timely information that is needed to understand the Nation’s water resources to: • Minimize the loss of life and property. • Effectively manage ground-water and surface-water resources. • Protect and enhance water resources for human health, aquatic health, and environmental quality. • Contribute to wise physical and economic development of the Nation’s resources

  3. USGS role in water-resource assessment • Assess the quantity and quality of the Nation’s water supplies • Collect data and conduct water-resources investigations to support local, State, and Federal needs • Maintain nationwide hydrologic-data network and publicly available database • Develop methodologies for the hydrologic sciences

  4. White River Eagle River Rifle Colorado River Western Slope Streamgaging Network: 111 Stations

  5. White River Eagle River Rifle Colorado River Western Slope Water-Quality Network:55 Stations • Commonly includes • Streamflow • Major Ions (salinity) • Nutrients • Metals • Real-time water-quality monitors

  6. Private Groups:Nahcolite and Coal mining companies, Ski Companies, Nonprofit Organizations Federal Agencies:Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Natural Resource Conservation Service, US Forest Service, National Park ServiceLocal and State Agencies: Garfield County and many other Counties and Towns, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation Water Conservancy/Conservation Districts and Water Authorities: Colorado River Water Conservation District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Water and Sanitation Districts Current Partners for Monitoring and Assessment in Western Colorado

  7. Water Data Supports Planning and Assessment • Resource Management/Water Administration • Rivers, Reservoirs, Aquifers, Ecosystems • Baseline Conditions • Comparison to Standards • Changes through time • Comparison among Sites • Flood Warning • Ecosystem recovery and protection • Prioritizing BMPs • Quantify BMP effectiveness • Recreation planning

  8. Cameo Data Collection example: Colorado River near Cameo • Long-term: Real-time streamflow (1933), specific conductance (1935), water temperature (1949) • Previously, to more completely characterize conditions, data collection included: • Major Ions (Salinity) • Nutrients • Pesticides and other organics • Trace Metals • Volatile Organic Compounds • Algae, Invertebrate, and Fish Community • Riparian and instream habitat • Sediment transport and chemistry

  9. Data Interpretation: Salinity Examples • “Salinity” describes the dissolved mineral content of water • Total Dissolved Solids • Major Ions • Specific Conductance

  10. Salinity is a major water-quality concern throughout the Colorado River Basin Irrigation Glenwood Springs Mancos Shale

  11. Colorado River Basin More than 4 million acres irrigated 246,000 square miles Water for 31 million people

  12. The Problem 9 million tons of salt pass LeesFerry every year 47% natural sources 53% human-induced

  13. Salinity Standards Developed to reduce economic damages in Lower Basin Approved in 1975 & adopted by each of the seven basin states

  14. Salinity Trends in the Upper Colorado River Basin(through 1996)

  15. Salinity Contributions to the Colorado River Upstream from the Colorado State Line

  16. Salinity Loads to the Colorado River Upstream from the Colorado State Line

  17. Currently developing partnerships to Determine baseline water-quality conditions in South Canyon downstream from Glenwood Springs Other important water-quality data gaps Midbasin (Debeque/Rulison) streamgage and water-quality site Detailed baseflow characterization of Colorado River and Tributaries between Glenwood Springs and Cameo Water Quality Data Gaps

  18. Contact info for follow-up Paul von Guerard (970) 245-5257 x14 pbvongue@usgs.gov Kirby Wynn (970) 245-5257 x23 khwynn@usgs.gov

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