Stochastic Modeling of Effects that the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir May Have on Colorado River Water Quality near Grand Junction, Colorado Completed
Sulphur Gulch, a new reservoir proposed to be located about 25 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado, on a tributary to the Colorado River that drains the Sulphur Gulch watershed between De Beque and Cameo, Colorado. The primary use of the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir would be to provide the Colorado River with up to 5,412.5 acre-feet of late-season water in support of the Endangered Fish Recovery Program.
For this study, an annual stochastic mixing model with a daily time step and 1,500 Monte Carlo trials were used to evaluate the probable effect that reservoir operations may have on water quality in the Colorado River at the Government Highline Canal and the Grand Valley Irrigation Canal.
Presently, there is concern that development and operation of the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir may change the water quality of the Colorado River at Palisade, Colo.
Understanding the operational effects that Sulphur Gulch Reservoir may have on water quality at Palisade is important because:
- this location represents the upstream end of the 15-mile reach where several endangered fish species reside
- and control of salinity in the Colorado River is a priority.
OBJECTIVES
- To modify and expand the existing annual mixing model to incorporate natural variability and uncertainty for evaluation of stream salinity on a daily time step at locations along the entire study reach,
- To quantify the effect of modeled natural variability and uncertainty on probable changes in stream salinity subject to selected reservoir fill and release scenarios,
- To determine reservoir parameters that minimize adverse water-quality effects during release to the Colorado River using a suitable optimization technique, and
- To make an initial assessment of the potential for selenium loading at the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir site.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Simulated effects of the proposed Sulphur Gulch Reservoir operations on Colorado river quantity and quality
Probable effects of the proposed Sulphur Gulch Reservoir on Colorado River quantity and quality near Grand Junction, Colorado
Below are partners associated with this project.
Sulphur Gulch, a new reservoir proposed to be located about 25 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado, on a tributary to the Colorado River that drains the Sulphur Gulch watershed between De Beque and Cameo, Colorado. The primary use of the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir would be to provide the Colorado River with up to 5,412.5 acre-feet of late-season water in support of the Endangered Fish Recovery Program.
For this study, an annual stochastic mixing model with a daily time step and 1,500 Monte Carlo trials were used to evaluate the probable effect that reservoir operations may have on water quality in the Colorado River at the Government Highline Canal and the Grand Valley Irrigation Canal.
Presently, there is concern that development and operation of the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir may change the water quality of the Colorado River at Palisade, Colo.
Understanding the operational effects that Sulphur Gulch Reservoir may have on water quality at Palisade is important because:
- this location represents the upstream end of the 15-mile reach where several endangered fish species reside
- and control of salinity in the Colorado River is a priority.
OBJECTIVES
- To modify and expand the existing annual mixing model to incorporate natural variability and uncertainty for evaluation of stream salinity on a daily time step at locations along the entire study reach,
- To quantify the effect of modeled natural variability and uncertainty on probable changes in stream salinity subject to selected reservoir fill and release scenarios,
- To determine reservoir parameters that minimize adverse water-quality effects during release to the Colorado River using a suitable optimization technique, and
- To make an initial assessment of the potential for selenium loading at the Sulphur Gulch Reservoir site.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Simulated effects of the proposed Sulphur Gulch Reservoir operations on Colorado river quantity and quality
Probable effects of the proposed Sulphur Gulch Reservoir on Colorado River quantity and quality near Grand Junction, Colorado
Below are partners associated with this project.