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<br />CRBSCP and CRWQIP <br /> <br />evaporation pond. Industrial Use could be an alternative <br />if such a U8e can be identified. <br /> <br />...... <br />~ Lower Gunnuon B05m Unil. - Plans for reducing saline <br />~ water consist of rehabilitating the canal and lateral <br />CD' systems where excessive seepage is occurring. Also, the <br />winter water use of the canals will be terminated, and <br />water for livestock use will be delivered through an <br />expanded domestic system. This is the most cost-effective <br />alternative being investigated. A. feasibility report was <br />completed in November 1982. a Drafl Environmental <br />Statement was filed in January 1983, and advance plan- <br />ning studie% weTe initiated in fiscal year 1984. <br /> <br />Big Sandy River Unit. - Plans call for collecting tbe <br />saline water by pumping from a weU field and delivering <br />to indu.trial plan" near Rock Spring1!. Wyoming, Other <br />industrial uses would be included 8S demands develop. <br /> <br />Price..san Rafael Rivero Unit. - Plans call for lining <br />canals and stock-watering ponds in the area. <br /> <br />Dirty Devi! Riuer Unit. - This unit is still under initial <br />in....estigation to determine major source!! of salt loading. <br /> <br />Meeker Dome Unit, - Unplugged exploratory holes in <br />this unit were cleaned and plugged with grout from top <br />to bottom, Monitoring .how. the salt loading has been <br />significantly reduced. No further work anticipated at this' <br />lime. <br /> <br />LaVerkin Springs Uni.t. - Plans for collection and <br />disposal of saline water have been determined to be not <br />oosl effective at this time. <br /> <br />Lower Virgin River Unit. - Studies ha"e been re. <br />initiated to investigate the viability of capturing Lower <br />Virgin River saline underflowB and surface flows and <br />diverting them for industrial use as powerplant cooling <br />water. <br /> <br />Palo Verde Irrigation Dulricl Unil. - Preliminary <br />studies indicate that lining canals in coordination with <br />onfarm improvements would reduce saJt loading into the <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />Saline Water Use and DiBposal Opportunities Unit, - <br />This unit i. .tudying the potential of a pipeline to <br />transport coal~ saline water~ and other commodities to <br />the west coast or to intermediary points of we. Also, <br />required sampling stations have been established in <br />conjunction with geologic inveatigationa in each river <br />b88in. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />DEVELOPMENT <br /> <br />Hiatory <br /> <br />Increaaes in the salinity levels of western rivet's is not a <br />new or unique situation. Water quality problems in the <br />Colorado River were recognized.. early a. 1903. The <br />Colorado River salinity problem bas been the object of <br />several studies .and investigations, and numerous surveys <br />of salinity sources and control me88ures have been <br />pursued over the years by the Bureau of Reclamation, <br />Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency. <br />Water Resources Council, Colorado River Board of <br />California, Basin State~ and several universities. In 1972, <br />a joint Federal-State enforcement conference on the <br />subject of pollution of interstate waters of the Colorado <br />River and its tributarieS initiated formal efforts to <br />establi.h an overall salinity control policy, Confer_ <br />concluded that such a policy would have as its objective, <br />"the maintenance of salinity concentrations at or below <br />level. found in the lower main stem of the Colorado' <br />River in 1972,. It also waa recognized that State. had <br />rights to continue development of their compact-ap- <br />portioned waters and that temporary rises in 8a.linity <br />might occur until the. salinity control program became <br />eHective. <br /> <br />Authorization <br /> <br />Authorized by the Colorado River B..in Salinity Control <br />Act of 1974. (P,L 93-320, 88 Stat. 266, June 24, 1974), <br />Title I provide. for meaaur... 10 enable the United Stat... <br />to comply with its obligation under the agreement 'With <br />Mexico of August 30, 1973. Minule No, 242 of Ihe <br />International Boundary and Water Commisaion. United <br />States and Mexico, Title II. """,,ntielly the Colorado <br />River Water Quality Improvement Program, provides {or <br />measures upstream of Imperial Dam necessary to sta- <br />bili,e the salinity of the Co.lorada River, <br /> <br />The Public Work. Appropriation Act of 1975 provided <br />funding for the start of advance planning activities on <br />the four authorized units. Title 11 provided for fe..... <br />ibility investigations and planning and impJementing the <br />other units. <br /> <br />Conatruction <br /> <br />The Paradox Valley, Grand Valley, Cryatal Gey.er, and <br />Las Veg88 Wash Units were authorized for constnJction <br />by Tide 11 of Public Law 93-320, Major structural <br />featurea of th...e unita. witb Ihe exception of Crystal <br />Geyser. involve construction of facilities such 88 wel~ <br />