7409

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7409
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1991.
• USFW - Doc Type: Progress Report No. 15,
• Copyright Material: NO

52 Chapter 7-ColoradoRiver Basin Salinity Control Program

To ensure the effectiveness of Reclamation
projects, several projects are being staged.
Staging allows additional time to monitor actual
results of salinity control methods and fine-tune
the techniques used to predict just how effective
the project will be. In the Grand Valley Unit,
the results of the stage one monitoring program
have significantly improved the confidence in
the techniques used to predict effectiveness of
both the Reclamation and USDA programs in
the Grand Valley Unit. The results of this
monitoring program have also improved
confidence in similar applications in other units.

In 1985, Reclamation and USDA formed the
Technical Policy Coordination Committee
(TPCC) to improve the coordination of salinity
control investigations and construction of
salinity control units. In the Grand Valley Unit,
coordination of the data and methods used to
evaluate the potential effectiveness of various
salinity control techniques has improved the
ultimate effectiveness of both Reclamation and
USDA programs.

Currently, only a few methods of salinity control
exist which have passed all the tests of viability
and are presently implementable: lining
irrigation delivery systems, deep well injection
of brines (but only in instances where State
water rights agencies consider this a beneficial
use), plugging offlowing brine wells, control of
erosion in arid lands, and control deep
percolation with onfarm management systems
such as sprinkler systems. The potential use of
saline water by industry has been examined
extensively with field testing at several power
plant sites. Implementation problems remain
with cost-sharing, timing of construction
schedules, and funding. However, studies are
continuing with private interests to apply
cogeneration power plant technology to
desalinate saline springs (see Glenwood-Dotsero
Springs Unit).

Bureau of Land Management

Public Law 98-569 directed the Secretary of the
Interior to develop a comprehensive program for
minimizing salt contributions from lands
administered by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) and to provide a report on

this program to Congress and the Colorado
River Basin Salinity Advisory Council by July 1,
1987. A report entitled "Salinity Control on
BLM-Administered Public Lands in the
Colorado River Basin" was completed and sent
to Congress and the Advisory Council in July
1987. The report discussed this ongoing
program; outlined BLM's implementation
actions concerning salinity control; and
quantified, classified, and mapped the saline
soils on BLM-administered lands.

Salt contribution to the Colorado River from
public lands will be minimized through proper
land use in a way that enhances resource values.
Proper land use, with objectives for increasing
ground cover, stabilizing stream banks,
controlling gully erosion, and minimizing
surface disturbing activities is the BLM's
preferred method of achieving salinity control.
In the report to Congress, BLM identified
14 projects which incorporate these land use
objectives. In addition, the report recommends
seven implementation actions to minimize salt
contributions from the public lands.

BLM continues to identify salinity sources via
water source inventories and soil surveys.
Through the land use planning process,
additional salinity control projects are being
identified, and salinity control objectives
incorporated.

Development of this program, including
implementation actions for the public lands
within the seven Basin States, has been the
primary objective of BLM salinity control efforts
since 1984. The objective of this program is to
minimize salt contributions to the Colorado
River while recognizing multiple-use objectives
and authorized uses of the public lands.

BLM has developed a resource management
planning process to make basic land-use
decisions. BLM's planning process is the
principal mechanism by which salinity control
problems are identified and addressed. Through
the planning process, resource plans are
developed that examine management
alternatives for all resources and land uses on
public lands. Impacts resulting from
management decisions are addressed through
environmental impact statements prior to