WSPC04330

• File Number: 8272.500.10
• Description: Colorado River Basin-Water Quality-Salinity-Organizations and Entities-CO Dept of Public Health-WQCC
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 3/14/1980
• Title: Colorado River Salinity-Water Quality Control Commission-1981 Standards-Comments on Proposed Water Quality Standard for Salinity
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

..
,

crops, soil

<<nd cltatlc

conditions.

r~co~nence"'Uidelines for

salinity

in irrigation water are given as 500 to 1,0')0 .''1/1 for sensi dve crops.

Some cro?s grown in southern Arizona and California are considered sensi-

tive ':ru.,s. Th., three numeric criteria established by tlle Colorado

River basin states, which range from 723 to 879 111'1/1, are within the

recommended guidelines for sr.:>..i.tive crops and safely protect that use.

Kunici~a~ damages of concern are primarily tl.c ~ossible corrosion of

pipes; the levels established also adequately protect that use.

'rh~ points chosen as appropriate for establishing numeric criteria

are three key locations in the lower main stelll. Exhibit A affords a

clear explanation for the choice of the three locations at pages S5 and

56:

In order to provide for sound wat~r quality objectives, numeric
criteria are to be established at three key stations (i.e. below
Hoover, below Parker, and at IIIlperial Dams). The state of Nevada
diverts Colorado River main stem water from Lake Mead for use in
the Las Vegas area, and tile returns enter the l~:e just u?stream
from Hoover D3Jll. The gaging station below Parker ~lall\ is ill1llle-
diately downstream of the major Lake Havasu diversion for the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Also, the
Central Arizona Project now under construction ~/ill divert from
Lake Havasu.

The ~arge agricultural areas in the. IlIIperia~ and Coachella
Valleys in California and Yuma area in ArLzona ~~d California
are served by diversions at Imperial Dam.

As e:cplained on paqes 2S through 27 of Exhibit 5, the salinity control

program includes a water quality monitoring and analysis progranl that will

provide inforrr~tion on a basinwida basis for plan evaluation. The monitor-

iAg points are not locations at which nUlneric criteria are \lOW set or

oontemplated, except for those ~ocated below Hoover and Parker Dams and

at III\perial Dam. The information will be used for analysis of system

changes that ::laY occur upstream of the monitoring site.

1509

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