PUB00100

• Year: 1992
• Title: An Analysis of Water Salvage Issues in Colorado
• Author: CWCB
• Description: An Analysis of Water Salvage Issues in Colorado
• Publications - Doc Type: Water Resource Studies

of the NPDES system,. A less stringent nonpoint control program (CWA, Section 319) was
established based on land management practices, in lieu of discharge permits and waste
treatment technologies, Agriculture is a significant, but not the only contributor to nonpoint
pollution, Others include mining, urban storm runoff, construction, and logging, There is
some pressure to amend the CWA to provide additional regulatory control over agricultural
return flows,

The nonpoint source program in Colorado is explained in two documents prepared by
CDOH: "Colorado Nonpoint Assessment Report", November, 1989; and "Nonpoint Source
Management Program", October, 1990. The Assessment Report identified specific stream
segments impacted by nonpoint pollution from agricultural activities, Throughout the State
over 500 stream miles were considered severely impacted, and over 2,000 miles experienced
some impact. The main pollutants were sediment, salinity, and nutrients (nitrates and
phosphorous), with some small critical segments effected by toxics (selenium, herbicides, and
pesticides), It is important to note that irrigated agriculture alone is not responsible for this
entire impact, since the agricultural category also included dryland crop production, grazing,
and feed lot operations,

To control agricultural pollution the Management Program proposes a multi-agency
approach with a combination of demonstration projects and educational programs,
Demonstration projects will be targeted at priority watersheds having the worst pollution to
illustrate effective control strategies, These strategies involve use of Best Management
Practices (BMP's) defined as: "the most effective, practicable means of preventing or
reducing the amount of pollution generated by nonpoint sources to a level compatible with
water/stream quality goals", Program, pg, 42, BMP's for irrigated areas may be structural
such as: canal repair and lining, land leveling, sprinkler installation, and tailwater recovery;
or non-structural such as: better scheduling of irrigation water, fertilizer budgets, and
improved cropping and tillage methods,

Obviously, the nonpoint source control efforts are very similar to the federal salinity
program since both seek to keep pollutantS from agricultural lands out of the surface and
groundwater systems, like the salinity program, the improvements being undertaken are
designed to reduce return flows and can yield saved and/or salvaged water. The nonpoint
program already has BMP demonstration projects underway in the San Luis and Arkansas
basins. Funds and technical assistance have been provided by EPA and USDA. In
addition certain water user entities such as the Central and the Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy Districts have begun their own studies to identify nonpoint problems and
potential solutions within their service areas. There has been no suggestion that existing
water law or the lack of an express right to claim any salvaged water produced through
installation of BMP's has hindered the nonpoint program, .

The regulation and protection of wetlands by the federal government arises out of
Section 404 of the CW A. While wetlands protection does not generally result in saved or
salvaged water, certain mitigation measures conceivably could require conversion of

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