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<br />" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />j <br /> <br />saline waters under artesian pressure into fresh water aquifers such <br />as the Dakota and Bntrada sandstone formations. Purthermore, locally <br />at least, the river alluvium aquifer is contaminated in many places <br />along the river which could spread to domestic wells at nearby ranches. <br /> <br />2. A part of the water supply for the town of Meeker, Colo- <br />rado is diverted directly from the White River into the town treatment <br />system and pumping plant. The intake is about two miles below the full <br />concentration of the saline waters flowing into the river by surface <br />and subsurface sources. Inasmuch as the town of Meeker is planning a <br />complete renovation of its water system, and seeking funds for an <br />approximate one-half million dollar investment, the town council will <br />look to the state and federal governments to assist in cleaning up the <br />river. It is a certainty that additional domestic water demands will <br />be a result of the oil shale boom. <br /> <br />3. Increasing concern is being expressed by private land- <br />owners of the Nelson-P.rather ranch because more crop lands are becoming <br />saturated with saline seepage. Only a few acres were affected in 1970, <br />but have now increased to approximately 23 acres. This land is now <br />completely sterila !lhd ~seless for eVeln grazing. The owners are con- <br />templating legal action against the Bureau of Reclamation for crop <br />losses the past four years, and permanently damaged land. <br /> <br />4. 'l'he local division of the State Highway Department has <br />reported increased maintenance along a two-mile interval of State <br />Highway 132 in the Meeker Dome area due to both salt water and fresh <br />water saturation at the sub-base at numerous points. Borrow pit areas <br />adjacent to the Nelson-Prather lands on the north are continuously <br />brine saturated, and ponds are present when evaporation rates decrease <br />during the colder months. <br /> <br />5. Of considerable concern is a landslide area some half- <br />mile in length and'one-quarter mile wide on the southeast side of the <br />dome. The highway traverses the slide area, and valuable private <br />developments are also located on the slide which is af; present quite <br />stable. However, as saline seepage continues to flow into the river <br />along the base of the slide, and along its entir~ ler.gth, an increasing <br />condition of instability is developing. The upper boundary of the <br />slide is a problem area or down-dropped fault zone with poorly developed <br />drainage which is susceptible to storm run-off. A storm of cloud- <br />burst proportions centered in the area or near vicinity could provide <br />enough saturation and resultant lubrication to trigger movement along <br />the base of the slide. Movement of the land mass would affect the <br />course of the White River, restricting the flow and causing flooding of <br />adjacent pa8~ttre lands and even ranch buildings. <br /> <br />Memorandum <br /> <br />.Zgoz <br /> <br />-2- <br /> <br />May 17, 1974 <br />