Select Water Quality Parameters during Wet and Dry Conditions in the Colorado River Delta

ABSTRACT The Colorado River Delta (CRD) consists of agricultural fields and remnant wetlands that are sustained by the Colorado River and agricultural drainage. Electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, and ammonia‐nitrogen data were collected at different locations in the CRD at the end of a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Water Resources Association 2022-12, Vol.58 (6), p.1116-1127
Main Authors: García‐Hernández, J., Leyva‐García, G., Aguilera‐Márquez, D., Díaz‐Argumedo, R.E., Santiago‐Serrano, E., Zamora‐Arroyo, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Ammonia
Aquatic plants
Colorado River Delta
Dissolved oxygen
Drought
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Freshwater plants
International boundaries
Rivers
Salinity
Salinity effects
Treated water
Water conservation
Water quality
Water shortages
Water treatment
Water treatment plants
Wetlands
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Summary:ABSTRACT The Colorado River Delta (CRD) consists of agricultural fields and remnant wetlands that are sustained by the Colorado River and agricultural drainage. Electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, and ammonia‐nitrogen data were collected at different locations in the CRD at the end of a wet period in 2000 and compared with the concentrations present during the dry conditions that prevailed from 2001 to 2020. An increase in mean EC values measured by the International Boundary and Water Commission at Morelos Dam between wet (1.2 ± 0.06 mS/cm) and dry (1.4 ± 0.11 mS/cm) periods was observed. The same was also observed at reach 4 of the riparian corridor between the wet (2.4 ± 0.24 mS/cm) and dry (3.3 ± 0.75 mS/cm) periods with an increasing trend in salinity over the years. However, salinity values did not exceed the limits required for the growth of native trees and cattails. A positive result was that EC values at reach 6 and the Hardy River significantly decreased over the past 13 years, this was attributed to inflows from “Arenitas” Water Treatment Plant and its wetland that began operations in 2008. Finally, although severe drought will likely mean water shortages, results indicate that treated water can maintain and restore riparian corridors and wetlands. It is recommended that ongoing conservation efforts consider these local water sources in addition to the ecological pulse flows.
ISSN:1093-474X
1752-1688
DOI:10.1111/1752-1688.13047