PUB00093

• Year: 2004
• Title: State of Colorado's Watersheds Report
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Colorado Watershed Assembly
• Description: An Annual Report
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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~ GUNNIlON BASIN
.. IELENIUM TASK FORCE

Background
The Gunnison Basin Selenium
Task Force is a group of private,
local, regional, state, and federal
interests committed to finding ways
to reduce selenium in our locally
afTectcd watclways. Our mission is to
find positive and creative approaches
to address selenium issues at the local
level while maintaining the economic
viability and lifestyle of the Lower
Gunnison River Basin.
Selenium is an essential trace
clement widely distributed in rocks,
soils, water, and living organisms.
Selenium is most common in marine
scdimcntmy deposits like the Mancos
Shale fonnation of the Lower Gunnison
River Basin. Application of watcr
to these soils causes selenium to
mobilize.
Studies of irrigation drainage water
with elevated levels of selenium in
California have been shown to cause
reproductive failure and defonnities in
fish and aquatic birds. Water samples
collectcd from thc lower Uncompahgre
and Gunnison rivcrs exceed the state
selenium water quality standard of4.6
parts per billion (ppb) for selenium.

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Accomplishments
The Gunnison Basin Selenium
Task Force has been active in taking
positive steps to address selenium
loading in the Lower Gunnison River
Basin. The Phytoremediation Project
north of Montrose is complete. Data
are being reviewed and a final report
will be released in
December 2004.
\Ve have secured
funding and provided
assistance in the
development and
implementation of
Best Management
Practices (BMPs)
for irrigation
management and
water conservation
for property owners in
the Lower Gunnison
River Basin and
Grand Valley areas.
\Ve arc also producing
an electronic "Landowner's Manual"
to assist new homeowners with issues
such as water, soils, and pasture and
range management.

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Gunnison River

Looking Ahead
Membcrs of our Task Force
lobbied Congress heavily and
rcceived "write-ins" totaling
S 1.5 million to the National Irrigation

An initial priority
is public outreach
efforts, which include
the promotion of
'Wise Water Use' as
a means to reduce
selenium loading to
the system.

Water Quality Program (NIWQP)
budget during 2003-2004. We arc
seeking an additional $750,000 in
fiscal year 2005 to continue the piping
of irrigation laterals, which have been
shown to significantly reduce selenium
loading.
\Ve also continue to ......'ork with

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NI\VQP and local water llsers on
studying the etTects of the lining of
irrigation canals and laterals with
polyacryalmide (PAM) to reduce
seepagc.
The Gunnison Basin Selenium
Task Force has work cd diligently' in
the first part of 2004 to develop an
Action Plan for addressing sclenium
loading to the Gunnison River. As an
initial priority. our Task Force will be
focusing on public outreach efforts.
which include the promotion of "\Vise
\Vater Usc" as a means to reduce
selenium loading to the Gunnison
Rivcr system. A workshop focused on
various aspects of "Wise \Vatcr Use
and selenium remediation is planncd
for the fall of 2004.