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<br />(\j <br /> <br />~CJ <br /> <br />.;;;.; <br />-4 <br /> <br />r--, <br />'-- <br /> <br />problems. At the present several agencies are involved in getting answers <br />to these problems in the Grand Valley. Some of the mOrl! important activi- <br />ties needed are seen as follows: <br /> <br />".-- <br /> <br />.1. Analyze all available research and study results fOI' information on <br />salinity. (Proposed - Agricultura~ Research Service and C01orado State <br />University) <br /> <br />2. Carry out a study of the surface and groundwater to identify water <br />flow patterns and salt sources within the irrigated area (Proposed _ <br />Aqricultural Research Service and U. S. Geological Survey) <br /> <br />Continue research and demonstration programs underway to <br />and show the effects of good water management practices. <br />Agricultural Research Service, Colorado State University <br />Water Conservation Board) <br /> <br />4. Carry out feasibility studies of possible improvements of on-farm <br />irrigation systems for the purpose of controlling salinity return <br />fiows. (Proposed - Request to Soil Conservation Service by the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board) <br /> <br />3. <br /> <br />determine <br />(Underway - <br />and Colorado <br /> <br />5. Study of diffused land sources of salts and the relation of erosion <br />and sedimentation. (Proposed - Request to Soil Conservation Service <br />by the Colorado Water Conservation Board) <br /> <br />6. Effective study coordination at the analysis stage with the Bureau of <br />Reclamation's Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program. <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />A Look to the Colorado River Basin <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />The foregoing information and possible approaches set forth for the Grand <br />Valley area can best be considered when looking at similar problems through- <br />out the Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />Because of the national and international concern for the increasing salt <br />concentrations in the Colorado River, the seven states of the Colorado River <br />Basin and the Federal government have given special attention to this prob- <br />lem. The first session of a joint Federal-State "Conference in the Matter <br />of Pollution of the Interstate Waters of the Colorado River and Its Tribu- <br />taries" was held in January 1960. Based on recorrmendations of the conferees, <br />a c1ptailed study was undertaken in 1963 of the mineral qual it~' :, the ':lasin. <br />This study culminated in a five volume report by the Environmental Protection <br />Agency in 1971 entitled "The Mineral Quality Problem in the Colorado River <br />Basin." This report points out that salt concentrations are increasing and <br />that in the lower river system they exceed desirable levels and are approach- <br />ing critical levels for some water uses. The report further statf~s thc:t <br /> <br />- 13 - <br />