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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The suggested wastewater treatment plan for metropolitan <br />Tucson is similar to that described for Phoenix. The tertiary <br />effluent would be discharged to a public aquatic park complex <br />and to ground water recharge. This additional treatment will <br />minimize the nitrates entering the ground water supply, a <br />problem that currently exists north of Tucson. <br /> <br />Streamflow Management <br /> <br />Water quality improvement by means of stream flow management <br />is limited in the Lower Colorado Region under present legal and <br />institutional environments. The maintenance of minimum flows <br />for water quality purposes is not recognized as a beneficial use <br />of water in the water rights laws of any state in the Region. <br />Availability of water in streams to maintain water quality <br />depends exclusively on flows released to meet other downstream <br />uses. Under existing laws, the entire flow of a stream could be <br />periodically removed leaving the stream dry regardless of water' <br />quality criteria. Therefore, management of streams to insure <br />minimum flows for water quality control is contingent upon <br />purchasing existing water rights or importation. <br /> <br />If water quality control becomes recognized as a legitimate <br />use, water resources management could provide for the optimum <br />combination of quality and quantity for the available supply. <br />In considering a streamflow management program, the effects of <br />stream regulation on an entire river basin would have to be an <br />integral part of any regionwide or basinwide water quality <br />man agement scheme. <br /> <br />Land Use ,and Management <br /> <br />Opportunities to improve water quality through careful land <br />management appear to be of the utmost significance. Land manage- <br />ment activities are known to contribute to water quality problems; <br />sediment and inorganic salts and minerals have a primary impact. <br />Animal wastes, agricultural chemicals, infectious agents, <br />turbidity, and heat are also of concern. Various aspects of the <br />effects of, land use are covered in this appendix but the net affect <br />of land management is not fully understood. Any of the land <br />management practices could possibly cause one or several changes <br />in the quality of water. Some of these activities have both <br />plus and minus effects on water quality. <br /> <br />Since a large percentage of the salt accretions contributing <br />to salinity are from diffuse natural sources and irrigation <br />return flows, potential salinity improvement benefits from <br />improved land management practices should be fully evaluated. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I, <br />I! <br />il <br />II <br /> <br />" <br />I, <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />v <br />