1. 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

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. Western Slope Streamgaging Network: 111 Stations Rifle

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

6. Current Partners for Monitoring and Assessment in Western Colorado 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 Service Local 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

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. 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 Cameo

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 Glenwood Springs Mancos Shale Irrigation

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. Water Quality Data Gaps 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

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