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<br />J <br /> <br />000782 <br /> <br />water developnent. Then the response was to <br />rush to build anything that ~ight possibly <br />reduce the salinity level. Today, almost <br />5 years after the basin's salinity control <br />program was authorized, it is doubtful that <br />salt in the river will be reduced as much <br />as predicted because at least 6 of 17 pro- <br />jects in the program may be in trouble. <br />(See pp. 28 to 30, 42, and 44 and 45.) <br /> <br />HOW MUCH TIME DOES <br />'i'HE BASIN HAVE? <br />.-- <br /> <br />It depends who you ask. The U.S. Bureau of <br />Reclamation estimates that the basin will <br />run out of water for future growth in 2020. <br />Others are less optimistic, foreseeing an <br />impending water shortage around 2000. <br />(See pp. 6 and 7.) <br /> <br />Actually, a solution is needed before then. <br />It takes at least 30 years to plan and con- <br />struct a water storage or distribution <br />facility. Therefore, the planning and <br />decisionmakinq organization GA0 envisions <br />should have been in operation in 1970 if <br />the most pessimistic estimates are valid, or <br />need not be established until 1990 if the <br />optimistic estimates are accurate. <br />(See p. 49.) <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />HOy! NUCH WATER IS THERE? <br />-_. ---- --- <br /> <br />It's ~ifficult to say. Data on riverflow <br />is limited and is not an accurate basis for <br />projection of future supplies. Answers <br />differ, depending on what base years are <br />used to project how nuch water is normal <br />for the basin. Predicting the future supply <br />is even more difficult when considering <br />future demands on the basin's water. <br />Litigation over Indian water rights may <br />involve as much as one-third of the basin's <br />water. (See pp. 6 to 8.) <br /> <br />\-IHAT AIlOU'i' THE <br />-"- -- <br />SALINITY QUESTION? <br /> <br />Water s~linity levels--the amounts of <br />dissolved solids or salts--present the <br />basin with one of its nost pressina and <br /> <br />i i <br />