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<br />Preliminary canal seepage and drainage investigations were completed on the riammond Project and <br />justified development of the plan. Reclamation proposes to reduce seepage losses to the main canal <br />system by lining the canal with either concrete or membrane linings. These improvements would <br />eliminate seepage into the saline formations beneath the canals, reducing salinity. Reclamation has <br />focused its planning efforts in the San Juan River Unit by preparing a planning report/environmental <br />assessment for the Hammond area. A final report and finding of no significant impact has been <br />approved for printing and will be available early in 1995. <br /> <br />l-" <br />C.Jl <br />~-- <br />c..::' <br /> <br />Preliminary review of data available in the Hogback Project area show heavy salt loading, but the <br />mechanisms are just beginning to be explored. Ground water accruing to the San Juan alluvium in <br />this vicinity has salinity concentrations of over 15,000 mglL. Other salt sources may include <br />abandoned gas or oil wells, blowdown water from powerplants, and wastewater from a petroleum <br />refinery. Reclamation and USGS are cooperatively investigating this area to identify sources of salt <br />and potential salinity control opportunities. <br /> <br />Recent water .quality data has shown NllP irrigated area ground-water return flows are surfacing in <br />Gallegos and Djo Amarillo Washes, tributaries to the San Juan River. These return flows have <br />salinities of about 3,000 mgIL and are typical of irrigation return flows. This water could be <br />collected for disposal or industrial use alternatives. These sources of salt will be evaluated for . <br />treatment in future studies. <br /> <br />Salinity investigations were completed by USDA in the San Juan River Basin east of the Hogback. It <br />was determined that a USDA onfarm salinity control program is not feasible in this area. In 1992, <br />investigations were initiated in the San Juan River Basin west of the Hogback to determine if an <br />onfarm program was feasible. The study area lies within the boundaries of the Navajo Indian Nation. <br />This study was completed in 1993. The report recommended that further study be done in the area. <br /> <br />Sinbad Valley Unit <br /> <br />The Sinbad Valley Unit is located in western Colorado, south of the town of Gateway. Salt Creek <br />drains Sinbad Valley and has been identified by BLM as a point source of saline ground water <br />contributing an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 tons of salts per year to the Colorado River System. Saline <br />ground-water discharges from the Paradox member of the Hermosa Formation into the alluvium in <br />Salt Creek through a series of springs and seeps near the mouth of the Sinbad Valley. <br /> <br />BLM initiated a study for the interception and disposal of these saline waters .in 1982 and completed a' <br />report on Sinbad Valley in April 1983. This report recommended that Reclaniation assume lead <br />responsibility and funding. <br /> <br />The Sinbad Valley study indicates that additional information is needed before final selection can be <br />made among the various alternatives. First, additional discharge and conductivity measurements are <br />required to define salt loads of high flows; second, onsite evaporation data are needed to further <br />refine the sizing of evaporation ponds (a pan evaporation station should be established and operated in <br />. Sinbad Valley for at least I year); third, the abandoned wildcat well, No. I Sinbad Unit, should be <br />evaluated for injection suitability. Other questions which need to be resolved include water rights and <br />the compatibility of the project with existing land uses. <br /> <br />37 <br />