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Increasing Salinity of the Colorado River

Increasing Salinity of the Colorado River. Amber Ritchie GEO316 March 2, 2011. Main Objectives. Locate possible sources of increased salinity in the Colorado River Discuss brief history of laws and regulations regarding salinity control in the river basin

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Increasing Salinity of the Colorado River

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  1. Increasing Salinity of the Colorado River Amber RitchieGEO316 March 2, 2011

  2. Main Objectives • Locate possible sources of increased salinity in the Colorado River • Discuss brief history of laws and regulations regarding salinity control in the river basin • Identify methods that can be used to level or decrease current salinity levels http://www.adwr.state.az.us

  3. Colorado River Basin *Colorado River flows 1,450 miles through seven U.S. States and two Mexican states *Divided into Upper Basin and Lower Basin *Over 20 dams and several large reservoirs*Arid climate*33 million Americans live in the Colorado River basin http://www.adwr.state.az.us

  4. Measured Salinity Concentrations In Arid regions, salinity naturally increases as river flows downstream. Some amount of increased salt concentration is allowed. EPA Maximum Legal Salt ConcentrationsBelow Hoover Dam (to Parker Dam) - 723 mg/LBelow Parker Dam (to Imperial Dam) - 747 mg/LAt Imperial Dam - 879 mg/L http://www.cortezeaa1451.org

  5. Natural Sources of Salinity • Marine environment approx. 300 mya • Waters receded in late Paleozoic era (Pennsylvanian-Permian periods) • Recession of ancient seas left evaporite deposits • Paradox formation / Mancos Shale http://www.agiweb.org

  6. Anthropogenic Salinity Sources • Irrigation4.4 million acres of farmland irrigated by water from the Colorado River; wastewater containing salts leached from underlying soil is released back into river • EvaporationDamming the river increases evaporation due to increased open water in reservoirs, which leaves behind salts in the water • More water drawn out for municipal and industrial useThis causes a decrease in overall flow, which causes an increase in salinity

  7. Laws Regarding Salinity • 1961- Mexican government made a statement saying they were not satisfied with the salinity levels in the Colorado River • 1965- America responded by building a canal system that transported highly saline drainage water to bypass important withdrawal points www.nationalgeographic.com

  8. Laws Regarding Salinity • 1972- Clean Water Act- EPA given the right to set maximum salinity levels • 1977- President Nixon passed Salinity Control Act (SCA) – measured and maintained water quality standards between Mexico and United States - 1.5 million acre feet of water has to flow into Mexico yearly - Flow into Mexico must meet salinity requirements set forth by EPA under the Clean Water Act

  9. Salinity Control • 1995- US Task Force sourced high levels of salinity in waters flowing into Mexico as drainage from agricultural use in the United States http://www.pv-magazine.com

  10. Possible Solutions • Collection TanksCollect brines from natural formations- desalinize prior to re-releasing water back into Colorado River • Deep InjectionInject saline water into deep limestone formations so that it will not re-enter surface water flow • Altered Irrigation PracticesLine ditches and canals to filter out solid particles; drip irrigation instead of flooding on fields http://www.fas.usda.gov

  11. Future Problems *Legal issues between Mexico and United States -Growing population of this region and increased use of water from Colorado River basin puts a growing stress on America’s water supply *Cost -Decreasing the salinity of the river by 1 mg/L costs an estimated 1.4 million dollars -Desalinization is a VERY costly procedure

  12. Questions? http://www.nasa.gov http://www.nasa.gov http://www.nasa.gov

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