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<br />.1JTJ2M 1. <br /> <br />Amendment). As federal agencies USBR and SCS also must mitigate, to some degree, the <br />envirorunental impacts caused by improved irrigation systems~ These impacts are explained <br />in Section B.D, below. <br /> <br />B. Other Federal ProlUams <br /> <br />Despite an apparent belief that "federal programs" would limit salvage to the West Slope <br />there are in fact a number of ways in which federal programs could result in water salvage <br />or savings throughout the state. <br /> <br />1. Clean Water Act <br /> <br />The Clean Water Act (CWA) led to creation of an expensive system of water quality <br />standards for the nation's surface waters. 33 U.S.C. 1313. These standards are designed <br />to preserve and improve tbe chemical, biological, and physical quality of water for the <br />benefit of all water users. Water quality programs in Colorado are admlnistered by the <br />Colorado Department of Health (CDOH) with the approval and assistance of the U.S. <br />Envirorunental Protection Agency (EPA). The primary enforcement mechanism is the <br />National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit which all municipal and <br />industrial water users must obtain. Waste water from a discrete or "point source" must be <br />treated to acceptable levels before discharge into a receiving surface waterway. Although <br />agricultural water use does result in discharges to surface water (retunl flows) these do not <br />occur at discrete points and control of these "nonpoint" discharges was specifically left out <br />of the NPDES system. A less stringent nonpoint control program (CWA, Section 319) was <br />established based on land management practices rather than discharge permits and waste <br />treatment technologies. Agriculture is a significant, but not tbe only contributor to nonpoint <br />pollution. Others include mining, urban storm runoff, construction, and logging. There is <br />some pressure to amend the CW A to provide additional regulatory control over agricultural <br />return flows. <br /> <br />14 <br />