WSP11564 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Q -: -) ....~) t:) -J l;.H Salinity control may be accomplished by plugging wells that discharge saline water and by desalting spring waters. One measure, outlined for the first time frame, is the construction of a small dam to impound the saline waters of Lost Creek during low-flow periods. A high degree of treatment of wastes alone cannot at all times provide the quality that is necessary to meet water quality standards. Withdrawals from the streams, particularly during periods of low flow, in many instances do not leave sufficient water in the streams to maintain water quality standards. Both an effective waste abatement program, together with maintenance .of minimum streamflows, are necessary to achieve satisfactory water quality in the Region. Water quality improvement by means of stream flow management is limited in the Great Basin Region under present legal and in- st,itutional environments. The maintenance of minimum flows for water quality pruposes is not recognized as a beneficial use of water in the water rights laws of any state in the Region. Avail- ability of water in streams to maintain water quality and meet the criteria established by the state-federal water quality standards depends exclusive ly on f1 oWS re leased to meet other downstream uses. Under existing laws the entire flow of a stream could be removed le4ving the stream dry, regardless of water qual ity criteria. Wat,er quality control needs to be legally recognized as a beneficial in.1stream water use if water quality standards are to be met. I I I Opportunities to improve water quality through careful land land management appear to be of the utmost significance. Land management activities are known to contribute to water quality problems; sediment and inorganic salts and minerals have a primary impact. Animal wastes, agricultural chemicals, infectious agents, turbidity, and heat are also of concern. Various aspects of the effects of land use are covered in the programs outlined in this appendix, but the net effect of land management is not fully under- stood. Any of the land management practices could possible cause one or several changes in the quality of water. Some of these activities have both plus and minus effects on water quality. Since the largest percentage of salt accretions contributing to salinity are from geologic sources and irrigation return flows, potential salinity improvement benefits from improved land management practices should be fully evaluated. . Expansion of present stream monitoring programs is needed in order to provide better stream coverage and to measure additional water quality parameters. Establishment of enforceable state- federal water quality standards for intrastate as well as inter- state streams is needed since the majority of the streams in the Region are intrastate. Also, the water quality criteria should be expanded to cover additional parameters in order to provide a more complete measure of water quality. ... iii ..