Basin Issues February 1998

• Description: Basin Issues February 1998. Various colorado basins, issues, data, budgets and meetings.
• State: CO
• Date: 2/1/1998
• Title: Basin Issues February 1998
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

• 747 mg\l below Parker Dam
• 879 mg\l below Imperial Dam
Minute 242 of the International Boundary and Water Commission requires that the delivery of water
to the Republic of Mexico be within 115 mg\l plus or minus 30 mg\l of the water quality at Imperial
Dam. A CRBSCP Forum (7 basin states) and Advisory Council were established to oversee the
program and advise and hear reports from federal agencies (USBR, EPA, NRCS, BLM, USFWS)
involved with the CRBSCP. Active CRBSCP issues in Colorado at the present include:
• On -Farm (USDA): USDA -NRCS is managing and funding in part (49 %) construction of the
On -Farm portion of the CRBSCP to improve irrigation efficiencies and thereby reduce saline
return flows. Continuing efforts to assure adequate funding so that all eligible participants in this
voluntary program receive contracts for cost share assistance remains a major part of our work.
We are pleased to acknowledge the recent assistance from the Colorado Soil Conservation Board
in this effort which has directed $500,000 in cost -share funding to the On -Farm Program in
Colorado. The CRBSCP is also working with USDA to make salinity control a national priority.
Such a designation would help eliminate the need for USDA salinity control projects to compete
with other USDA projects in Colorado for EQIP funding as they presently do. The On -Farm
project areas include, Lower Gunnison, Grand Valley and Dolores\McElmo.
• Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - East Side Laterals (USBR): We are continually looking for ways
to bring this area into the program by developing partnerships that make it more cost effective
and thereby increase the probability of implementation.
• Selenium, a potentially toxic element, occurs naturally in soils and rocks in Montrose County
and surrounding areas. State agencies (Parks, Wildlife, and Health) are aware of increased levels
at Sweitzer Lake State Park and Escalante State Wildlife Area. The CRBSCP does not
specifically target selenium reduction, but the CRBSCP could help reduce the level of selenium
inflow from any incidental sources that might exist within CRBSCP project areas.
• Paradox Valley Project (USBR): Project intercepts natural saline groundwater tributary to the
Dolores River and injects it into deep bedrock aquifers, reducing the present salt load in the
Colorado River. USBR has tested the injection well and declared the project to be operational.
However, USBR has deferred repayment of the project for 10 -years since it is possible that
injection may not be feasible on a long -term basis. USBR will consider other disposal methods,
most probably solar evaporation, if injection fails.
• The CWCB was given authority in SB 97 -8 to make loans out of a $1,000,000 account within
the CWCB's construction fund directly to participants in the CRBSCP. Loans can not exceed
50% of the total salinity control project costs and are intended to help participants finance the
non - federal cost share requirements of USDA and USBR salinity control projects. Loans from
this account no longer require legislative approval, as they would have in the past.
• Glenwood - Dotsero Project: Efforts to identify a viable project to reduce the salt production from
this area continue. We are currently working with the Colorado Geologic Survey to further
refine our understanding of the salt sources and loading mechanisms, and perhaps identify a cost
effective control strategy for the area.
• Triennial Review — A triennial review of the standards and "Plan of Implementation" is required
by law. Staff participates in this review as a workgroup member of the CRBSCF and works with
the Colorado Department of Health in assuring that the review is completed and adopted by the
state as appropriate and subsequently approved by EPA as required. In the intervening years,
staff participates in the preparation of the annual progress reports required.
Upper Colorado River Compact & Upper Colorado River Commission — The CWCB
pays the dues to the Upper Colorado River Commission as required by the Upper Colorado River
Compact. CWCB staff also assists Colorado Compact Commissioner in representing Colorado
through participation on Commission Committees and other activities of the Commission.
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December 30, 1997
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