9318

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9318
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

As a result of recommendations made in that audit report, it is anticipated that BLM
will soon begin to clear a large backlog of unprocessed recommendations.
F. INVESTIGATIONS
The Upper Colorado Region General Investigations budget for fiscal year
1998 was about $3.6 million, with approximately 34 percent being directed within
the Upper Colorado River Basin. About 22 percent of the General Investigations
funds spent in the Basin during fiscal year 1997 were for salinity control activities
including support of the Colorado River Storage System model, economic impact
studies, salinity monitoring and verification studies, program coordination, other
salinity control activities, and managing the new Basinwide salinity control program.
Other investigations include the Ashley/Brush Creeks Optimization Study,
the Carbon/Emery Counties Water Management Study and the Mesa County Water
Conservation Study. Under funds appropriated through a congressional write-in,
Reclamation provided planning and technical assistance to the city of Gallup, New
Mexico, and the Navajo Nation on the San Juan River Gallup/Navajo Water Supply
Study. Reclamation continues to provide assistance, as requested, through its
Technical Assistance to the States Program, and continues to coordinate with other
natural resource agencies on critical water resource related problems and issues.
Funds are also provided, under the Investigation of Existing Projects account, to
evaluate ways to optimize benefits on existing projects, and under the General
Planning Studies account to participate in special studies requested by other natural
resource agencies.
1. New Mexico
a. San Juan Gallup/Navajo Water Supply Study
This study is providing planning and technical assistance to the Navajo
Nation and the city of Gallup, New Mexico to formulate a project to divert water
from the San Juan River to augment domestic water supplies of rural Navajo
communities on the eastern side of the reservation, the cities of Gallup, New
Mexico and Window Rock, Arizona. Existing groundwater supplies in the area are
inadequate to meet expected future demands.
2. Utah
a. Ashley/Brush Creeks Optimization Study
This study is examining the existing operation of projects on Ashley and
Brush Creeks and will recommend an optimal operating plan to maximize benefits
and resolve critical water resource-related issues and problems. Reclamation's
Jensen Unit, on Brush Creek, was constructed to meet projected growth from oil
shale and other developments which have not occurred. There is a need to provide
an alternate supply of high-quality water to Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management
Area to replace drainage water which is carrying selenium and other contaminants
into the Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area. There is also a need to provide
late-season irrigation water to irrigators who own higher priority water rights than
Reclamation's Vernal Unit on Ashley Creek. Also, the Ashley Valley sewer lagoons
evaporate large quantities of water and leach contaminants into lower Ashley Creek.
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