Thesis--Harvard University, 1926. / Includes bibliographical references and index.

Prepared for Lower Colorado Region, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, By the University of Arizona, University of California at Davis, and the University of Nevada, June 1978. / Water resources research projects in the Lower Colorado River Basin completed or in progress from mid -1976 through early 1978 are abstracted and compiled into this bibliography, with both university and agency oriented research included. Data were collected in large part by mailed questionnaire directed to all known researchers and agencies, plus direct contact where possible, with good response. The report includes abstracts, lists of publications resulting from these research efforts, funding levels where available and other pertinent data. It is indexed by keyword, principal investigator -project manager and by funding agency. These data were incorporated with similar earlier information in a computerized data file, from which selective retrievals can be made.

Thesis (M.A. - History and Political Science)--University of Arizona. / Typewritten manuscript. Bibliography: leaves [203]-213.

Comparison of the power spectra of TDS time series from different locations on the Lower Colorado River is useful in showing changes in salinity and for indicating physical factors influencing salinity. Similarities between the power spectra of the Lee Ferry and Grand Canyon tine series indicated that lateral inputs and evaporation are not greatly influencing the salinity cycle. The salinity change within this reach was approximated by a constant concentration change of 66.6 ppm. A similar model form was used for the Hoover Dam to Parker Dam reach. Dissimilarities between power spectra indicated that additional inputs are significant and must be accounted for in any model of such reaches. The model for Lake Mead required compensation for evaporation and for the inputs of the Virgin River and Las Vegas Wash. The modeled salinity increase between Parker Dam and Yuma contained a trend factor to allow for the effect of irrigation return flows and seepage. The crosscovariance function was used to approximate the time lag between data stations. Time series statistics, including coherence, response function spectra, and overall unit response, were used and are of utility in estimating salinity in a river system.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

The Colorado River is the terrestrial part of a continental scale sediment routing system that has been evolving and carving the landscape of western North America for at least six million years. This study aims to test models of the geological evolution of the Colorado River in particular and the more general drainage history of the SW US. Several possible routes are proposed for the ancestral Colorado River prior to its integration across the Colorado Plateau and incision of the Grand Canyon. Palynological samples from prodelta deposits of the palaeo-Colorado River delta in the Salton Trough produced reworked pollen and dinoflagellate cysts from the river catchment. These provide strong evidence that the Colorado River was fully integrated across the Colorado Plateau during the early Pliocene, supporting heavy mineral data and U-Pb detrital zircon ages. Detrital zircon U-Pb dating provides accurate information for the source of sediment in the basins. Comparison with known ages of zircons in sedimentary units of the Colorado Plateau as well as local basement rocks in the basinal regions has identified two populations of zircons in the deltaic sediments: one from local Mesozoic plutonic basement and a second from Colorado Plateau stratigraphy. The data support recent work on the timing of integration of the river through the Grand Canyon, proving that the 5.33 Ma Colorado River that fed into the Salton Trough was integrated across the Colorado Plateau at that time and that there had already been a degree of incision of the Grand Canyon. A literature review shows how uplift of the Colorado Plateau and development of the San Andreas transform boundary had significant consequences for evolution of the Colorado River. The San Andreas Fault in southern California is responsible for the dextral lateral migration of the Los Angeles Basin and Salton Trough (both on the Pacific Plate) at least from Middle Eocene through Present. The Colorado River, which drains much of the western part of the North American Plate, crossed this major strike-slip plate boundary prior to deposition of the main part of its sedimentary load. The delta of the Colorado is in the v northern Gulf of California at the present day, but palaeo-reconstructions of lateral displacement along the fault show that the Salton Trough lay adjacent to the point where the Colorado River crossed from the North American Plate (at about 5.33 Ma). It is also possible that at about 18 Ma, at the time of fault initiation, the Los Angeles Basin was at the same point. The study uses heavy mineral analysis (HMA) and associated techniques to test the hypothesis that an ancestral Colorado River supplied sediment both to the Los Angeles Basin and the Salton Trough. Analysis of HMA data suggests a broadly similar source for some of the sediment in the two basins, and for the modern river. The data also indicate changes in the catchment area, suggesting that the Colorado River became fully integrated across the Colorado Plateau by the early Pliocene.

Thesis (M.S. - Hydrology and Water Resources)--University of Arizona, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-47).

Thesis (M.S. - Hydrology and Water Resources Administration)--University of Arizona, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-107).

Thesis (M.A. - History)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-230).

Water quality analyses in Grand Canyon examined Colorado River and tributary baseline water quality status in relation to recreational float trip use of the river corridor. Float trip use of Grand Canyon has increased over recent years (since 1966) to levels which have caused concern for water quality-river running associations. River runners have traditionally used the Colorado River and tributaries as sources of drinking and cooking water, for swimming and bathing, and, at times, as a disposal for some refuse, e.g., dishwater and leftover food. Associated with float trip use of the river corridor water resources has been potential water quality hazards. During the 1972 and 1979 float trip seasons (May through September) outbreaks of gastroenteritis occurred among river runners in Grand Canyon, prompting investigation by the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia; an enteric pathogen Shigella sonnei was isolated from some river-trip participants. Potentially, the Colorado River or a tributary served as a source or carrier of the pathogen, though this has not been confirmed. Enteric disease organisms excreted in feces by humans, wildlife or domestic animals can become potential sources of infection; water contaminated with fecal organisms can distribute diseases. Water quality analyses of the Colorado River corridor occurred during the 1978 and 1979 river running seasons. Examination of the extensive river corridor necessitated analyses in the field. Travel through the Grand Canyon was via research rafts in a series of six float trips, April through September, in 1978, and two float trips, July and August, in 1979; 82 field days in 1978 and 22 field days in 1979. A total of 497 water quality samples were collected over two seasons from the Colorado River along the 225-mile stretch from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, the launch and take-out points of the research trips. The confluent reaches (within approximately 200 yards of the Colorado River) of 26 side creeks in the river corridor were also sampled in 1978; nine tributaries were sampled in 1979. Additional samples collected from upstream locations on some side creeks increased the tributary sample site total to 33 in 1978 and to 13 in 1979 for a two season total of 165 individual tributary samples. Selected microbial, physical, and chemical parameters were measured to determine baseline water quality status in the Colorado River corridor of Grand Canyon. Research emphasis was on microbial water quality; physical and chemical parameters were measured to facilitate evaluation of the microbial profiles. Microbial parameters included fecal coliform bacteria and fecal streptococcus bacteria densities; physical parameters included turbidity and water and air temperature; chemical determinations included alkalinity, hardness, phosphate, nitrate, chloride, total dissolved solids, and pH. Data from 1978 and 1979 show that the Colorado River and tributaries have similar bacterial water quality profiles. Surface waters show predominantly low FC densities, indicating high quality waters for recreational activities, based on established federal and state water quality standards. Treatment of river and tributary surface water is necessary to assure drinking water quality standards. Bottom sediment analyses modify considerably the water quality status represented by surface water analyses alone. Significant densities of enteric organisms are present in the river and tributary environments, representing an important water quality hazard. Associated with resuspension of bottom sediments is the probability of surface water contamination by enteric organisms. Recreational activities, particularly water play in confined tributary pools, can bring river runners in direct contact with concentrated sediment suspension in surface waters.