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

the census; however, Sweetwater County estimates indicate a combined

1980 population of 379.

The region is a gently rolPng, agricultural area with irrigated

lands located along the Big Sandy River in the northern part of the unit

area and grazing lands predominant elsewhere. The irrigated farms, pro-

ducing mostly hay and pasture, are concentrated near Eden and Farson.

Most of the nonirrigated lands are used for dry grazing by sheep and

cat tIe.

The Big Sandy River heads in the Wind River Mountains east of

the area and extends southwest to its junction with the Green River.

The area is in a large open basin composed of rolling hills broken occa-

sionally by sharp, low ridges and relatively large areas of nearly level

flat lands.

The Big Sandy River Valley is broad in the vicinity of the com-

munities of Farson and Eden, but is relatively narrow downstream from

Farson to the Green River. Numerous saline seeps and springs emerge and

flow into the river along a 26-mile reach beginning west of Eden and

extending downstream to near Gasson Bridge.

A considerable amount of

the seepage emerges in Bone Draw, a mile-long perennial tributary to the

Big Sandy River in the central portion of the seep area. Downstream of

Bone Draw the river swings south and then west, forming a curve known as

Big Bend beneath steep cliffs and escarpments. Below Big Bend the river

resumes its northwesterly course to the Green River.

The climate of the area is classified as arid to semiarid, with

average annual precipitation ranging from 7 inches at Rock Springs to 13

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