WSP08768

• File Number: 8273.500
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agency Reports - EPA
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1978
• Title: Implementation of Agricultural Salinity Control Technology in Grand Valley
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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individually and independently in previous investigations. In
order to extend these results to the formulation of comprehen-
sive plans for controlling salinity on a large scale, it was '
necessary to describe the interrelationships which exist among
the alternatives. Prior to this project, some limited evidence
had indicated that the functions describing costs and effective-
ness of specific salinity control measures are nonlinear.
Therefore, if salinity control measures are not mutually exclu-
sive, then an "optimal" salinity control strategy would consist
of a combination of several alternatives. The respective com-
position of such a strategy would depend on the relative magni-
tude of each hydrologic segment in an irrigated area. Thus,
an important step in solving salinity problems was to investi-
gate the nature of improvements incorporating several alterna-
tives, or in simpler terms, assessing the impact of a "package"
of salinity control measures.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this demonstration project was to
show the advantages of implementing a "package" of technological
improvements within the lateral subsystems in reducing the salt
load entering the Colorado River. As defined in this project,
the lateral subsystem begins at the canal turnout and includes
all of the water conveyance channels below the turnout and the
farmlands served by the lateral subsystem. Although major
emphasis was upon on-farm improvements, considerable improve-
ments in the water delivery conveyances and some improvements
in lowering high water tables (drainage) were also required.

This project utilized each of the salinity control measures
previously evaluated in Grand Valley with the additional use of
various irrigation methods to demonstrate the complete package
of salinity control measures. No single measure will adequately
alleviate the salt load from an irrigated area. Demonstrating
the complete package of salinity control measures is not only a
"first," but the "packages" can also be expected to reduce the
salt load beyond the sum of each individual measure because of
improvements in the operation and management of each lateral.

The specific objectives of this demonstration project are
summarized below:
A. Utilize salinity control technology to demonstrate the
complete package of salinity control measures for
nine laterals, including a preevaluation and post-
evaluation of the fOllowing control measures:
l. Utilization of existing canal lining technology
developed in the Grand Valley;
2. Utilization of irrigation scheduling technology
presently in use in the Grand Valley;
3. Evaluation of salinity control benefits resulting

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