Laserfiche WebLink
<br />CRBSCP and CRWQIP <br /> <br />e\'aporalion pond. Industrial use could be an alternative <br />if slIch a use can be identified. <br /> <br />Lower Gunnison Basin Unit. - Plans for reducing saline <br />water consist of rehabilitating the canal and lateral <br />systems where excessi\:e seepage is occurring. Also. the <br />winter water use of the canals will be terminated, and <br />water for livestock use will be deli,'ered through an <br />expanded domestic system. This is the most cost-effective <br />alternative being investigated. A feasibility report was <br />completed in NO\:ember 1982, a Draft En\'ironmental <br />Statement was filed in January 1983, and advance plan- <br />ning studies were initiated in fiscal )'ear 19M. <br /> <br />Big Sandy Rit'er Unit. - Plans call for collecting the <br />saline water by pumping from a well field and delivering <br />to industrial plants near Rock Springs, Wyoming. Other <br />industrial uses would be included as demands develop. <br /> <br />Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit. - Plans call for lining <br />canals and Block.-watering pondB in the area. <br /> <br />Dirty Devil River Unit. - This unit is still under initial <br />investigation to determine major sources of salt loading. <br /> <br />fvleeker Dome Unit. - Unplugged exploratory holes in <br />this unit were cleaned and plugged with grout from top <br />to bottom. Monitoring shows the salt loading hat! been <br />significantly reduced. No further work anticipated al this <br />time. <br /> <br />LaVerkin Springs Unit. - Plans for collection and <br />di~posal of saline water have been determined to be not <br />cost effecth'e at this time. <br /> <br />Lower Virgin River Unit. - Studies have been reo <br />initiated to in\.estigate the \'iability of capturing Lower <br />Virgin Ri\'er saline underflows and surface flows and <br />diverting them for industrial use as powerplant cooling <br />water. <br /> <br />Palo Verde Irrigation District Unit. - Preliminar)' <br />studies indicate that lining canals in coorclinatioll with <br />on farm impro\'ements would reduce salt loading into the <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />Saline Water Use and Disposal Opportunities Unit. - <br />This unit is studying the potential of a pipeline to <br />transport coal, 88line water. and other commoditieg to <br />the west coa!;l or to intermediary points of use. Also. <br />required sampling stations have been established in <br />conjunction with geologic im:estigations in each river <br />basin. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />DEVELOPMENT <br /> <br />History <br /> <br />Increases in the salinity levels of western rivers is not a <br />new or unique situation. Water quality problems in the <br />Colorado River were recognized as early 88 1903. The <br />Colorado River salinity problem has been the object of <br />sc\'eral studies and in,.estigations., and numerous surveys <br />of salinity sources and control measures have been <br />pursued over the years by the Bureau of Reclamation. <br />Geological Surve}'. Environmental Protection Agency, <br />Water Resources Council. Colorado River Board of <br />California. Basin States, and several unh.ersities. In 1972, <br />a joint Federal-State enforcement conference on the <br />subject of pollution of interstate waters of the Colorado <br />River and ill' tributariC8 initiated formal effortl' to <br />establish an o\'erall salinity control polic}'. Conferees <br />concluded that such a policy would have as its objecth.e, <br />"'the maintenance of salinity concentrations at or below <br />le'ieh. found in the lower main stem of the Colorado <br />Rh'er in 1972." It also was recognized that States had <br />rights to continue development of their compact-ap- <br />portioned waters and that temporary rises in salinity <br />might occur until the salinity control program became <br />effective. <br /> <br />Authorization <br /> <br />Authorized by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Act of 1974, (p.L. 93-320, 88 Sial. 266, June 24, 1974). <br />Title I provides for measures to enable the United States <br />to comply with its obligation under the agreement with <br />Mexico of August 30, 1973, Minute No. 242 of the <br />International Boundary and Water Commission. United <br />States and Mexico. Title II. ef!lscntially the Colorado <br />River Water Quality Improvement Program, provides for <br />measures upstream of Imperial Dam necessary to sta- <br />bilize the salinity of the Colorado River. <br /> <br />The Public Works Appropriation Act of 1975 provided <br />funding for the start of ad'.ance planning activities on <br />the four authorized units. Title II pro,'idcd for feas- <br />ibility in\'estigations and planning and implementing the <br />other units. <br /> <br />Construction <br /> <br />The Paradox Valley, Grand Valley, Crystal Geyser, and <br />Las Vegas Wash Units were authorized for construction <br />hy Tille II of Public Law 93.320. Major struclural <br />features of these units. with the exception of Crystal <br />Geyser. in,'olve construction of facilities such as wells. <br />