Appendix H SOLUBLE SALTS IN MAJOR STREAMS IN THE 11 WESTERN STATES This appendix presents a more detailed discussion of the occurrence and concentration of soluble salts in the major streams of the 11 western states. The discussion and data are presented hereafter with a brief general discussion of the major elements and then a discussion of eac.. water resource region. The chemical composition of river waters used for irrigation is studied primarily with respect to the following elements: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride and boron. The concentration of dissolved solids in water represents all solid material in the solution, whether ionized or not. The concentration of other uncited elements may be critical for drinking water or other domestic uses. For the purpose of this study, the source and concentration of these elements in the major streams of the 11 western states were not 'studied. Detailed information in regard to the occurrence of magnesium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate and boron in surface waters of the 11 western states is not available. But a survey of major streams in the 11 western states reveals the following findings. The general concentration of magnesium in streams of the Arkansas-White-Red Water Resource Region is found to be about 20 to 50 parts per million (p. p. m.). 1/2/ The California and Columbia-North Pacific Water Resource Regions, with the exceptions of the Snake River basin, yield water predominantly of 4 to 15 p. p. m. magnesium content. Surface waters in the Snake River 1/ U. S. Department of Agriculture, Salalinity Laboratory Staff, Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkaline Soils, Agriculture Handbook 60, (1954). 2/ Estimated by Resource Contractor. basin, Upper and Lower Colorado Water Resource Region, and the Missouri Water Resource Region are generally reported to contain 10 to 30 p. p. m. of magnesium. The streams of the Great Basin Water Resource Region carry about 15 to 25 p. p.m. of magnesium, except the Sevier River, which is reported to contain 70 to 80 p. p. m. of magnesium. Streams in the Rio Grande basin of the Rio Grande Water Resource Region contain 5 to 20 p. p.m. of magnesium. The Pecos River, which drains the Pecos River basin, is reported to carry 100 to 120 p. p. m. of magnesium. From the standpoint of magnesium content, water containing up to 125 p. p.m. of magnesium is considered to be potable and suitable for other household uses. Magnesium content of 20 or less p. p.m. is good quality and 100 or more p. p.m. is poor quality water. 3/ Usually the concentration of magnesium found in streams of the 11 western states is suitable for irrigation uses. Generally, the content of potassium in streams of the 11 western states is reported to be low. The bicarbonate content of water in the California Water Resource Region and Columbia- North Pacific Water Resource Region is 50 to 160 p. p. m. 4/ Generally, the streams of the Upper and Lower Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas-White-Red and Rio Grande Water Resource regions carry 50 to 300 p. p.m. of bicarbonate. The concentration of bicarbonate in streams of the Great Basin Water Resource Region is normally considered to be 200 to 350 p. p.m. From the standpoint of bicarbonate concentration, water with less than 500 p. p.m. of bicarbonate is suitable for drinking. Water with 150 p. p.m. and 200 p. p. m. of bicar. bonate is considered to be good quality water for general household use and for irrigation use, respectively. Water with 500 p. p.m. of bicarbonate content is considered poor quality water for irrigation and general household uses. Carbonate concentration in streams usually follows the pattern of bicarbonate occurrence. The amount of carbonate in major streams of the 11 western states generally does not create any degree of problem for domestic and agricultural uses. 3/ S. N. Davis, R. J. M. De Wiest, Hydrogeology, John Wiley and Sons Inc. (1966). Boron usually occurs in low concentrations in surface streams. Its primary importance is with respect to plant uses. It is an element which is essential to plant growth, but also is injurious if present in large quantities. Generally, the major streams in the 11 western states carry water of 0.02 to 0 of boron. 5/ Water with boron content of 0.3 p. p.m. is good quality water for irrigation uses, and 3.0 p. p.m. in water makes it unsuitable for irrigation. However, certain types of plants, such as citrus, cannot tolerate more than about 0.5 p. p.m. The occurence and approximate concentration of calcium, sodium, chloride, sulphate, and dissolved solids in the major streams of the 11 western states are discussed for each water resource region in the following paragraphs. Arkansas-White-Red Region Calcium. With the exception of areas along the main stream of the Canadian River, where water quality investigations have been performed, it is reported that the calcium concentration of the water is 11 to 100 p. p.m. which makes it satisfactory for drinking, household use, and irrigation. 6/ and irrigation. 6/ The calcium level along and in the main Canadian River is 101 to 1000 p. p.m. water is satisfactory for irrigation, but it is considered to be of poor quality for drinking, household use or the food industry. The Sodium. Most of the Arkansas-White-Red Region lacks surface water quality information. With the exception of areas along the main stem and tributaries of the Canadian River, water from the remainder of the region is reported to have sodium at concentrations from 11 to 100 p. p.m. The sodium level is considered to be satisfactory for most uses. In certain areas the sodium level may not be desirable for irrigation use. Water in the areas along the main stem of the Canadian River carries 101 to 1000 p. p.m. of sodium. Chloride. The chloride content of surface streams in the Arkansas-White-Red Region is only reported for the headwaters area, the area along the main channel of the Arkansas River, and the Canadian River basin. The designated areas, with the exception of the Canadian River headwaters, produce water with 11 to 100 p. p.m. of chloride. The chloride level is quite satisfactory for all types of use. The water from the headwaters of the Canadian River contains less than 10 p. p.m. of chloride. 5/ U. S. Salinity Laboratory, supra note 1. 61 U. S. Geological Survey, Calcium, Sodium, Sulphate, and Chloride in Stream Water of the Western Conterminous United States to 1957, Hydrologic Investigations, Atlas HA-189 (1965). Sulphate. Only the area along the channels of the Arkansas River and Canadian River produces from 100 to more than 1000 p. p.m. of sulphate. The investigation on the Arkansas River basin has been limited to areas along the main channel and headwater area. Sulphate content of water in the headwaters area is reported to be about 11 to 100 p. p.m. Dissolved Solids. The waters of the Arkansas River and the Canadian River have about 700 to 2500 p. p.m. of dissolved solids. 7/ California Region Calcium. The streams flowing from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin Valley and the lower half of the Sacramento Valiey generally have less than 10 p. p.m. of calcium. The calcium level is quite satisfactory for drinking and general household use.8/ The water is not harmful for irrigation and other uses. The area of origin consists of mostly forested lands. The remainder of the California Region, with the exception of the central coastal basins and southern portions of the Lahontan area near the Salton Sea, normally produces water at a concentration of 11 to 100 p. p.m., which is suitable for drinking, general household use and irrigation. Water drawn from the central coastal streams, namely the Santa Ynez River, Santa Maria River, and Salinas River, contains calcium at 101 to 1000 p. p.m. The water is suitable for irrigation use. Certain stream water in this area, from the point of calcium content, may be suitable for drinking, but it is not desirable for general household use or food processing. Sodium. Streams flowing from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the north coastal river basins have a sodium concentration of less than 10 p. p. m. It is considered to be excellent for all types of use. The western and southern slopes of the Central Valley, the majority of basins in the south coastal area, basins of the San Francisco Bay area, and basins in the northwestern portion of the state of California produce water with 7/ U. S. Geological Survey, Stream Composition of the Conter- |