BOARD01933

• Board Meeting Date: 9/21/1998
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORI\DO

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Roy Romer, Covernor
Patti Shwayder, Executive Director

Dedicated [0 protecung and impro....ing !he health and environment of (he people of Colorado

4300 Cheny Creek Or. S. L.1bor3tof)' and Radiation Services Divijion
Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 8100 Lowry Blvd.
Phone [phone] Den....er CO 80220-6928
. Loc.1ted in Clend.1le, Colorado [phone]

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hap://www.cdphe.stdle.co.us

Colo..ao Dc?uuncnt
of Public Hc:drh
and Environmcot

January 28, 1998

Jack Barnett
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
106 West 500 South, Suite 101
Bountiful, Utah 84010-6232

Dear Mr. Barnett,

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On July 14, 1997 the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission amended the
Classifications and Numeric Standards for the Gunnison and Lower Dolores River Basins
(Regulation No. 35). These amendments included the adoption of new standards for
selenium and the adoption of temporary modifications for selenium standards in four river
.' segments of the basin. This was based on the 85th percentile of ambient data with an
underlying standard of 5 ppb chronic and 20 ppb acute. These temporary modifications
were established because it is believed that the selenium concentrations in these segments
can be reduced.

Selenium is a trace metal that bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains and has been known
to cause defonnities and other adverse impacts in birds and fish. The elevated levels of
selenium in some waters of western Colorado is considered to be a significant water
quality problem.

In order to meet the underlying standards, the seleniurn loadings to these reaches of these
basins need to be reduced. Interested parties including the U.S. EPA, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the Colorado Water Quality Control Division are attempting to
identify available funds to undertake prevention and remediation measures to reduce
these levels.

We believe that funds available through the agencies that work with the Colorado River
Basin Salinity Control Forum (CRBSCF) may contribute to this effort. For projects that
the CRBSCF is considering for funding, we would encourage assignment of priority to
projects which may simultaneously reduce selenium loading in these basins.

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