The overall aim of this project is to assess and forecast salt storage, movement, concentrations, accumulation rates, and loads within an irrigated semi-arid river basin subject to changes in climate, land use, and practical mitigation strategies. The South Platte River Basin (Colorado), a complex managed, agro-urban basin with many conditions representative of other semi-arid river basins, will be used to explore this goal. Objectives include:Quantify salinity concentrations, storage, accumulation rates, extent, and movement in soils, groundwater, and surface water, using a combination of field work, remote sensing techniques, and process-based hydro-salinity modeling.This will be accomplished using a set of test fields with data collection, remote sensing (proximal, satellite, and unmanned aerial system), and a set of SWAT+ watershed models that span the SPRB. The models will be tested for streamflow, groundwater head, in-stream salinity, soil salinity, and groundwater salinity.Forecast the impact of future climate, land use, and water rights transactions on salinity concentrations, storage, movement, and crop yield in the basin.This will be accomplished using the calibrated and tested SWAT+ models from Objective 1, and a suite of future land use scenarios and climate futures.Investigate the impact of priority alternative land and water management strategies and policies on salinity, crop yield, and soil health.This also will be accomplished using the calibrated and tested SWAT+ models from Objective 1, and a suite of management strategies and climate futures.Engage with growers and water managers to improve understanding of system operations and identify viable refined regional-scale and field-scale strategies for salt mitigation.This will be accomplished through personal dialogue, online communication, and two workshop events.
ASSESSING, FORECASTING, AND PLANNING FOR MITIGATION OF SALT POLLUTION IN SEMI-ARID IRRIGATED REGIONS
Objective
Investigators
Bailey, R.; Gates, TI, K.; Chavez, JO.; Andales, AL.
Institution
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
Start date
2024
End date
2028
Funding Source
Project number
COL0-2023-09915
Accession number
1032470