Document Type

Report

Publication Date

12-2005

Abstract

This paper documents the steps taken to compute natural flow and salt in the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins from 1971-1995. Natural flow and salt data are hydrologic input data required in the CRSS planning model. The methods used to compute natural flow and salt described in this paper have changed from previous methods as a result of recent research. This research found data and methodological inconsistency in past methods to compute natural flow and salt was compared to data and methods used in the CRSS planning model (Prairie and Fulp, 1999). To assure the computation of natural flow and salt is consistent with the use of natural flow and salt in the CRSS planning model, the new methods to compute natural flow and salt throughout the Colorado River Basin as described in this paper were adopted by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Nothing in this report is intended to interpret the provisions of the Colorado River Compact (45 Stat. 1057), the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact (63 Stat. 31), the Water Treaty of 1944 with the United Mexican States (Treaty Series 994; 59 Stat. 1219), the Decree entered by the Supreme Court of the United States in Arizona vs. California, et al. (376 U.S. 340), the Boulder Canyon Project Act (45 Stat. 1057), the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act (54 Stat. 774; 43 U.S.C. 618a), the Colorado River Storage Project Act, (70 Stat. 105; 43 U.S.C. 620), or the Colorado River Basin Project Act (82 Stat. 885; 43 U.S.C. 1501).

An overview of methods used to compute natural flow and salt mass in both the Upper and Lower basin is first provided. The overview is followed by detailed explanations of

1. the data required to compute natural flow in the Upper Basin and the source of the data,

2. the data required to compute natural salt mass in the Upper Basin and the source of the data,

3. the development of regressions to model natural salt in the Upper Basin and,

4. the data required to compute natural flow and salt in the Lower Basin and the source of the data.

This report concludes with a discussion of the methods used to verify that the data and methods to compute natural flow and salt are consistent with those in the CRSS planning model.

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