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<br />4 <br /> <br />o <br />....J <br />W <br />'-H <br /> <br />primary source of the increased salt loading is from introducing <br /> <br />excess irrigation, along with conveyance seepage losses, to extremely <br /> <br />saline aquifers overlying natural formations of salt bearing Mancos <br /> <br />Shale. The addition of this water results in a displacement of water <br /> <br />into the river from these aquifers which has reached a chemical <br /> <br />equilibrium with the ambient salinity concentration. <br /> <br />The Grand Valley has long been an area of investigation, but not <br /> <br />until recently has mineral pollution been the focus of study. The <br /> <br />Grand Valley Salinity Control Demonstration Project is part of the <br /> <br />Federal Water Quality Administration's objective of developing <br /> <br />pollution control technology. The project's more specific objectives <br /> <br />are: <br /> <br />(1) Demonstrate the feasibility of reducing salt loading <br /> <br />in the Colorado River by instituting programs of <br /> <br />canal lining to reduce the amount of unnecessary ground <br /> <br />water inflow. <br /> <br />(2) Evaluate this method for applicability to other are'as. <br /> <br />The procedure outlined for achieving these objectives in the project <br /> <br />area consists of three steps: <br /> <br />(1) Determine the magnitude of seepage losses from canals, <br /> <br />drains, and laterals and formulate recommendations for <br /> <br />construction of canal lining. <br />