Effects of climate on temporal variability in streamflow and salinity in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Abstract
Study Region
The Upper Colorado River Basin, a critical water source for more than 40 million people in the western United States.
Study Focus
Potential decreasing streamflow and elevated salinity concentrations threaten this resource. Climate variability has a large and well-studied effect on streamflow in the basin; however, the effect on salinity loading is less understood. This study investigates how snowpack dynamics, precipitation volume, and air temperature affect both streamflow and salinity at the basin scale from water years 1986–2021.
New Hydrological Insights for the Region
Climate variables explained 54 % of streamflow variability and 40 % of salinity variability across the basin. Both streamflow and salinity yields have declined in response to climate variability, but their response occurs on different timescales. Streamflow is more sensitive to snowpack, whereas salinity yields respond more strongly to antecedent precipitation. The delayed response of salinity yields may obscure the effects of both climate variability and salinity control measures. Residual analysis identified subbasins where the climate-salinity relation deviated from basin-wide patterns, suggesting that possible anthropogenic or other watershed processes may influence salinity loading in these areas. These novel findings underscore the importance of accounting for climate variability when evaluating long-term trends in streamflow and salinity.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Effects of climate on temporal variability in streamflow and salinity in the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| Series title | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102672 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Publication Date | August 12, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Colorado Water Science Center |
| Description | 102672, 14 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming |
| Other Geospatial | Upper Colorado River Basin |