WSP09806

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agencies - Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 11/1/1985
• Author: BOR
• Title: 1985 Evaluation of Salinity Control Programs in the Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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INTRODUCTION

This interagency report provides the basis for continuing
evaluation of the Title II portion of salinity control
programs in the Colorado River Basin. It is intended to
serve asa comprehensive financial/management level analysis
of all Federal and State efforts in the basin. This annual
evaluatiQn is provided as a management tool to ensure that
the prog~am is being carried out in the most cost-effective
manner in accordance with legislative requirements and
current program schedules. The Title I part of the salinity
control program downstream from Imperial Dam is summarized
for information purposes in this report.

Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River Basin encompasses portions of seven
states. The river flows over 1,400 miles from its head-
waters in Wyoming and Colorado. It joins with tributaries
from Utah and New Mexico, flows through the Grand Canyon,
provides state boundaries for Nevada, Arizona, and
Californi'a, flows through the Republic of Mexico, and ter-
minates in the Gulf of California.

The Colorado River provides municipal and industrial water
supplies for over 18 million people and irrigation water to
over 1,000,000 acres. The river, however, carries about
9 million tons of salt annually past Hoover Dam. Projec-
tions indicate salinity levels increasing beyond numeric
standards if controls are not implemented, even though
recent high flows have flushed and filled the major reser-
voirs. The result was significantly lower salinity levels at
Imperial Dam--from an annual average of 826 mg/L in 1982, to
710 mg/L in 1983, and 670 mg/L (provisional) in 1984.

Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program

The CRWQI~ (Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program)
was initiated as a general investigation program by
Reclamation <Bureau of Reclamation) in 1971. See figures 2
and 3. the general goals and objectives governing salinity
control in the basin have been established by two key pieces
of Federal legislation: The Federal Water Pollution Control
Act, as amended, Public Law 92-500, currrently known as the
Clean Water Act, and the Colorado River Basin Salinity
Control Act of 1974 as amended, Public Law 93-320.

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