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<br />1J1J11-i1.:i <br /> <br />LOWER GCYSISOS (coflt;lIuedfm", pUKe I) <br /> <br />The workshop was jointly organized and <br />presented by the Selenium Task Force and <br />NIWQP. local stakeholders facilitated the <br />wOrkshop and established a cooperative <br />mood with the audience. The success of the <br />workshop was primarily due to the <br />participation of the local leadership. Along <br />with NIWQP staff, individuals representing <br />the following organizations took part in the <br />program: <br />. Uncompahgre Valley Water Users <br />Association <br />Colorado Water Quality Control Division <br />Delta County Commission <br />Delta Soil Conservation District <br />Colorado River Water Conservation <br />District <br />Shavano Soil Conservation District <br />Colorado State University Cooperative <br />Extension <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />While some of these local leaders do not <br />necessarily believe that selenium problems <br />for fish and wildlife are critical, or that the <br />water quality standard is reasonable, they do <br />agree selenium is a local problem and that <br />THEY should figure out the solutions. The <br />role of the federal agency representatives <br />was to present water quality information and <br />describe the problems created by selenium <br />in the local area. The positive approach <br />instilled by the local stakeholders was the <br />key to making the meeting a success and <br />accomplishing the sponsors' objectives. <br /> <br />A major portion of the workshop involved the <br />attendees brainstorming potential solutions <br />to the selenium problems. Approximately <br />200 ideas were contributed and recorded. <br />These ideas will be evaluated by the NIWQP <br />study team and the Selenium Task Force. <br />The best ideas will be studied further with the <br />hope of developing an implementation plan <br />which reduces selenium to meet Colorado <br />water quality standards and benefit aquatic <br />species including, possibly, endangered fish <br />species in the Gunnison <br /> <br />p.,., <br /> <br />and Colorado Rivers. The recorded ideas will <br />be edited to remove duplication and to combine <br />similar ideas. Some examples of the ideas <br />(listed in no particular order of preference) are <br />shown below. If you would like the complete <br />list, please contact Mike Baker at the address or <br />phone number shown on the last page. <br /> <br />NON-STRUCTURAL Measures: <br />- institute penalties for over-watering <br />- improve water management <br />. raise selenium standards <br />- purchase and retire high selenium lands <br />- ~grow crops that remove selenium from soils <br />- grow higher value crops with drip irrigation <br />- plant crops that need less water <br />---- use PAM to minimize deep percolation <br />- release flushing flows from upstream <br />reservoirs <br />- limit transmountain diversions <br />- breed stronger fish and aquatic birds <br />- extract selenium and sell it <br />- discourage ponds <br />- reward farmers for reducing water use and <br />selenium <br />- reduce use of nitrate fertilizer <br /> <br />STRUCTURAL Measures: <br />............ line or pipe canals and laterals <br />- build reverse osmosis treatment plant <br />- install more irrigation improvements <br />- control seepage from ponds <br />""'" construct wetlands to filter out selenium <br />. install tile drains or an impermeable layer to <br />reduce deep percolation <br />- build AB lateral project to dilute Uncompahgre <br />River <br />- recycle drainage water <br />- install buffer strips to remove selenium from <br />tailwater <br />. build small dams to store water for dilution <br /> <br />FUNDING Ideas <br />..... build AB lateral project <br />- get State legislature to provide cost share <br />- subsidies to offset implementation of Best <br />Management Practices <br />- tax or ask for funding from the lower basin <br />