Delineation and Correlation of Salinity to Landforms and Geologic Formations, Upper Colorado River Basin

摘要

The investigation was aimed at assessment of the potential contribution of dissolved mineral salts by natural lands in the Grand and Gunnison River Valleys in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Mancos, Sego and Mount Garfield formations, are important contributors of soluble salts. Springs and seeps within the study area are highly localized, but result in significant differences in water quality and discharge between nearly identical adjoining watersheds. The majority of salts leave some local watersheds by groundwater flow through buried stream channels. The close correspondence between salinity and landforms provided the basis for construction of landform-salinity maps covering approximately 1070 km2 within the Grand Valley and Gunnison River Valleys.