Characteristics and trends of streamflow and dissolved solids in the upper Colorado River Basin, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

Liebermann, Timothy D.; Mueller, David K.; Kircher, J.E.; Choquette, Anne F.

doi:10.3133/ofr87568

Cited by 16 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…He calculated a dissolved-solids load of 69 100 t/yr for these springs. Liebermann et al (1989) reported a dissolved-solids load of ϳ513 100 t/yr for the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs (site 4, Fig. 1) (Table 1).…”

Section: Colorado River Basinmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Because of the lack of a station with a long-term water-quality record near the upstream outcrops of the evaporite, the evaporite-salt load in this reach was estimated by using the areal factor for evaporite dissolution in the Eagle River basin (320 t/yr per km 2 ), resulting in an estimate of ϳ80 000 t/yr. Liebermann et al (1989) reported dissolved-solids loads of ϳ380,350 t/yr (Table 1) for the Colorado River near Dotsero (site 3, Fig. 1), which is ϳ2.4 km downstream of the mouth of the Eagle River.…”

Section: Colorado River Basinmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Widespread outcrops of other formations containing gypsum (notably, the Cretaceous Mancos Shale) and dolomite make estimation of mineral-salt loads contributed to this basin by the Eagle Valley Evaporite problematic and tenuous. However, because widespread faulting and abundant thermal springs in the basin have the ability to transport dissolved salts from depth, the Eagle Valley Evaporite probably contributed a substantial fraction of the dissolved-solids load of ϳ262 000 t/yr for the period 1959-1983 (Liebermann et al, 1989; Table 1) to the Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs (site 5, Fig. 1).…”

Section: Roaring Fork River Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These contributions were added to the estimated mean annual evaporite-salt load for the Eagle River between sites 1 and 2 to obtain the estimate of the total mean annual evaporite-salt load contributed to the Colorado River by the Eagle Valley Evaporite in the Eagle River basin. Liebermann et al (1989) reported a mean annual dissolved-solids load of ϳ145 600 metric tons per year (t/yr) at site 2 for the period 1947-83. However, because the only common period of water-quality data for sites 1 and 2 was during 1997-99, evaporite-salt loads for the differences in ion loads for those years were calculated and scaled up (multiplied) by the ratio of the mean annual dissolved-solids load for site 2 during 1947-83 (145 600 t/yr) to during 1997-1999 (143 600 t/yr).…”

Section: Eagle River Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All SO 4 ‫מ2‬ from dissolution of gypsum (CaSO 4 •2H 2 O; mass of H 2 O ignored in mineral-salt load) and/or anhydrite (CaSO 4 ). Liebermann et al (1989); data converted to metric tons per year with extra significant figures; mean annual dissolved-solids loads adjusted for adjusted mean annual carbonate-equivalent loads and for a more accurate total. § Mean annual carbonate-equivalent loads adjusted to balance ionic charge of mean annual dissolved-solids loads.…”

Section: Eagle Valley Evaporite Dissolved-solids Loads To the Coloradmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dissolved-solids-load contributions of the Pennsylvanian Eagle Valley Evaporite to the Colorado River, west-central Colorado

Chafin¹,

Butler²

2002

Late Cenozoic Evaporite Tectonism and Volcanism in West-Central Colorado

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Surface-water dissolved-solids loads for the upper Colorado River basin in westcentral Colorado were used to estimate dissolved-solids-load contributions from the Eagle Valley Evaporite of Pennsylvanian age to the Colorado River. Results indicate that the Eagle Valley Evaporite contributed a total of ϳ800 000 metric tons of salt per year to the Colorado River. Minerals that dissolved from the Eagle Valley Evaporite were contributed to the Colorado River in the following order (by mass): Halite (60%) Ͼ gypsum and/or anhydrite (29%, excluding mass of chemically bound water) Ͼ dolomite (10%) Ͼ magnesite (0.7%). Salts from the Eagle ValleyEvaporite contributed ϳ60% of the total annual dissolved-solids load for the U.S. Geological Survey station Colorado River near Cameo, although the evaporite is exposed or underlies unconsolidated surficial deposits over only ϳ5% of the Colorado River basin upstream from that station.

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Section: Colorado River Basinmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Colorado River Basinmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Roaring Fork River Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eagle River Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eagle Valley Evaporite Dissolved-solids Loads To the Coloradmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Dissolved-solids-load contributions of the Pennsylvanian Eagle Valley Evaporite to the Colorado River, west-central Colorado

Chafin¹,

Butler²

2002

Late Cenozoic Evaporite Tectonism and Volcanism in West-Central Colorado

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Changes in groundwater recharge under projected climate in the upper Colorado River basin

Tillman

Gangopadhyay

Pruitt

2016

Geophysical Research Letters

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Understanding groundwater‐budget components, particularly groundwater recharge, is important to sustainably manage both groundwater and surface water supplies in the Colorado River basin now and in the future. This study quantifies projected changes in upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) groundwater recharge from recent historical (1950–2015) through future (2016–2099) time periods, using a distributed‐parameter groundwater recharge model with downscaled climate data from 97 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 climate projections. Simulated future groundwater recharge in the UCRB is generally expected to be greater than the historical average in most decades. Increases in groundwater recharge in the UCRB are a consequence of projected increases in precipitation, offsetting reductions in recharge that would result from projected increased temperatures.

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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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Characteristics and trends of streamflow and dissolved solids in the upper Colorado River Basin, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

Dissolved-solids-load contributions of the Pennsylvanian Eagle Valley Evaporite to the Colorado River, west-central Colorado

Dissolved-solids-load contributions of the Pennsylvanian Eagle Valley Evaporite to the Colorado River, west-central Colorado

Changes in groundwater recharge under projected climate in the upper Colorado River basin

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

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