WSP09675

• File Number: 8041
• Description: 208 Clean Water Grant
• State: CO
• Date: 8/16/1982
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Quarterly Reports on the 208 Clean Water Grant for the Water Quality Control Division of the Coloradio Dept of Health
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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3770

SCS - Draft Report of the McElmo Creek Salinity Control Study

The SCS inventoried and analyzed current irrigation systems
and practices on a sample of irrigated land and off-farm laterals
in the Montezuma valley, which is drained by McElmo Creek.
Results of the analyses were expanded to be representative of the
approximately 29,100 acres of irrigated land and about 235 miles
of off-farm laterals in the Montezuma Valley.

Of the 115,000 tons of salt that McElmo Creek delivers
annually to the Colorado River, the SCS estimates that 46,000
tons come from on-farm irrigation systems and practices, and
about B,OOO tons come from small off-farm laterals.

San Juan Regional Commission - Water Quality Management Plan for
the San Juan Region

The 20B Plan for this region contains a discussion of water
quality problems for San Juan tributary streams in Colorado. As
has all previously discussed literature, the Plan cites
irrigation of Mancos Shale derived soils as a major contributor
to salt loading in the San Juan Basin.

Sources of salt loading to the Animas River not previously
discussed include mine drainage in the headwaters, urban runoff
and municipal discharges below Durango. Although salt loading
from these sources has not been quantified, increases in
dissolved solids concentrations (over 500 mgfl) have been
observed.

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