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'" . . ~ Lv. :, "'UlySt, ~'- . I RV""l'j ',. ,..,/ " Oly ," SOA,IiO Name of Investigation: Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit - Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER AND POWER RESOURCES SERVICE UPPER COLORADO REGION NOTICE OF INITIATION OF INVESTIGATION Location of Investigation: Price and San Rafael River Basins in east-central Utah. Date Investigation Initiated: Data Collection began during fiscal year 1974. Feasibility investigations will be initiated during fiscal year 1981. Feasibility studies are scheduled for completion in fiscal year 1986. 1. Scope of Investigations: The primary purpose of this investigation is to determine the salt loading to the Colorado River System resulting from canal and lateral seepage and natural salt loading, and develop feasibility level proposals to control this salt contribution. The effects of irrigation management practices on salt loading will also be considered. Authority for this investigation is found in Public Law 93-320 approved June 24, 1974, which states in part that the Secretary of Interior shall implement the salinity control policy adopted at the EPA enforcement conference held April 1972. One,of the recODDllendations from the April 1972 conference was to implement a salinity policy for the Colorado River System which would maintain lower ?asin water salinity at or below 1972 levels while the basin states continue to develop their compact apportioned waters. Section 12 of Public Law 96-375 enacted October 3, 1980, gives additional authority to engage in feasibility studies on ten salinity control units including the Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit. The investigation is intended to be conducted by the use of a professional services contract and under the Principles and Standards for Water Resource Planning to determine the most feasible means to accomplish a reduction in salt loading to the Price and San Rafael Rivers. Meetings will be held with Federal, State, and local interests to. discuss and determine the problems and needs of the area affected by this program. The enhancement and protection of environmental quality will be investigated. 2. Problems: Increased salinity concentrations in the lower reaches of the Colorado River will adversely affect municipal, industrial, and agricul- tural uses. Present salinity concentrations in the Colorado River range from 50 mg/L at the headwaters to average concentrations of about 770 mg/L (1979) at Imperial Dam. The projected concentrations of total dissolved solids at Imperial Dam for the year 2000 is estimated to be 1090-1140 mg/L if no salinity reduction measures are instituted. The Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit contributes about 430,000 tons of salt annually to the Colorado River System. Potential structural and nonstructural salinity control programs could reduce the salt level by an estimated 180,000 .'\' r r- "1 0 vLlI.~.