WSP08407

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1983
• Title: Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - Big Sandy River Unit - Draft Planning Report/Advance Draft Environmental Impact Statement - October 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

protection of the quality of water available in the Colorado River for

use in the United States and in the Republic of Mexico. Title I of the

Act, which was directed toward controlling the salinity of river water

below Imperial Dam for use in the United States and Mdxico, authorized

the construction of a desalting plant to reduce the salinity of river

water below Imperial Dam for use in the United States and Mexico.

Title II of the Act was directed toward salinity control of the Colorado

River in the United States above Imperial Dam.

Public Law 96-375 of

October 1980 specifically authorized feasibility-level studies for the

Big Sandy River Unit as well as nine other salinity control units.

Public Law 92-500 set forth a public policy of nondegradation for

water quality, pollu tion ef fluent discharge limitations, and eventual

zero pollution discharge by 1985.

In response to this policy and

related Federal and

State program enforcement guidelines, the CRWQIP

has the specific objective of identifying and evaluating control mea-

sures that would prevent salinity from exceeding 1972 levels in the

lower mainstem of the river.

General Description of the Area

The Big Sandy River Unit area is predominantly rural. Sweetwater

County, in which it is located, had a 1980 population of 41,723, accord-

ing to the U.S. Census. The major population centers are Rock Springs,

with a 1980 population of 19,458, and Green River, with a population of

12,807. The communities of Farson and Eden are not listed separately by

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