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Unintended Consequences due to Salinity Management – Example from the Lower Colorado River Multi-State Salinity Coalition 2012 Annual Conference January.

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Presentation on theme: "Unintended Consequences due to Salinity Management – Example from the Lower Colorado River Multi-State Salinity Coalition 2012 Annual Conference January."— Presentation transcript:

1 Unintended Consequences due to Salinity Management – Example from the Lower Colorado River Multi-State Salinity Coalition 2012 Annual Conference January 25, 2012 Chuck Cullom Colorado River Programs Manager

2 Colorado River Basin Study Structure and Schedule Summary of Key Activities Upcoming Meetings Further Discussion, Follow- up Complex River System 10 major reservoirs 14.7 maf Av. Supply 34 million people 4 million irrigated acres Salt load long-term concern to users

3 Distribution of Flow and Salt Load Salinity increases downstream Natural sources Springs Tributaries Evaporation Ag runoff M&I discharges

4 Lower Colorado River System

5 Lower Colorado River Key Facilities Study Structure and Schedule Summary of Key Activities Upcoming Meetings Further Discussion, Follow- up Imperial Dam Point of diversion for 5 maf/yr Morelos Dam Point of delivery for Mexico - 1.5 maf/af Yuma Desalting Plant Cienega de Santa Clara Significant wetland in Mexico relying on US drainage water

6 Salinity History in the Lower Colorado River

7 Lower Colorado River Salinity Requirements Study Structure and Schedule Summary of Key Activities Upcoming Meetings Further Discussion, Follow- up Numeric Criteria Hoover – 723 ppm Parker – 747 ppm Imperial – 879 ppm International Water Treaty Delivery point = Morelos Dam Salinity Differential Imperial Dam + 115 ppm +/- 30 ppm

8 Sources of Water for Delivery to Mexico Colorado River Water Natural drainage Ag drainage Pumped Drains MAXIMIZE Efficient Water Management + MEET Treaty Requirements

9 Yuma Area Return Flows ~80% CR Water ~20% Drainage Linkage between Surface flows Drainage Pumping

10 Yuma Area Salinity Management + Accounting

11 Alternatives

12 What do we already know? YDP operated at 30% capacity from May 3, 2010 to March 26, 2011 YDP operations diverted flow away from Bypass Drain/Ciénega YDP operations added brine to Bypass Drain 30,000 acre-feet of “arranged water” added to Bypass Drain/Ciénega in 18 month period from Oct 29, 2009 until April 28, 2011 Magnitude 7.0 earthquake, April 4, 2010 Extensive fire, March 23-25, 2011 There are no simple experiments in nature


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