Presentation description

The Paradox Valley, located near the Colorado-Utah border, is a geologic anomaly. This valley is made up of a collapsed salt anticline and the Dolores river flows perpendicular to the valley's length. The Dolores River is a tributary to the Colorado River and contributes about 6 percent to the total salinity load of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The salinity of the Dolores River increases abundantly as it moves through the valley, due to dissolution of subsurface salt deposits. The high salinity contributes to degrading water quality, increased water treatment costs, and harm to the environment. Working with the United States Geological Survey on their new project, I have been analyzing historic water quality data from this region to investigate water quality trends. The goal is ultimately to better understand solute loading in this valley so water management plans can be made to better water quality overall.