WSP02174

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agencies - Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1981
• Author: DOI BOR
• Title: Salinity Update - October 1981 - A Quarterly Report on the Colorado River Water Improvement Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

.....
-J
o
00

oversight of Reclarnation's salinity
control actIvities. Nice to have someone
so knowledgeable of the program in this
key position.
Clyde D. Gessel retired from the
Upper Colorado Regional Otlice
September 19, after more than 40 years
Jf Government service. Clyde has been
nvolved in the plannmg phases of the
3alinity control program since Its
Jegmnings early in the 1970's. His
3xpertise in salinity matters will be
)reatly missed.
Karl Klingelholer, with the Soil
:onservation Service in Washington,
J.e., will be retiring effective October 1,
1981. Karl has been an active participant
)n the Salinity Control Interagency
"dvisory Committee and the USDA
~dvisor to the Forum's Work Group. We
NISh Karl well in his new endeavors.
New Colorado State Director for the
.\gricultural Stabilization and
:;onservation Service is Lloyd
';ommerville. Lloyd is a Grand Valley
armer who brings frrst hand knOwlp.dge
)f the onfarm salinity control programs
o his new position. Looking forward 10
vorking with Lloyd.
Jim Ruch, formerly BLM State
)irector in California, IS the new BLM
-lervice Center Director In Denver.
The SlIpport sta1f in the Colorado
liver Water Quality Office has, until
ow. remained nameless. The backbone
,f the office, and without whom the
,ffice could not function. IS Jean Dyer-
iecretary, travel assistant, draftsperson,
,udget assistant, "jack-of-all office
3quests," Jean is taking on additional
;!:sponsibilities.
In order to take on these additional
3sponsibllitles, a part-time clerk-typist,
:arol Hall, has been hired to assist Jean
nth some of the typing, filing, and
;!:ceptionist duties. Carol recently
lOved to Denver from Boulder City
Ihere she worked in Reclamation's
ower Colorado Regional Office.
Another part-time employee and a
tudent at Colorado School of Mines in
jolden, Colorado, is Gregory A. Keller.
computer whiz (at least as far as this

editor IS concerned). Greg works closely
with Dave Merritt_developing programs
for the interpretation of Lake Powell
sampling program. This program can be
used for other reservoirs and is being
documented for use by other offices.
Greg has spent hundreds of hours at the
CRT terminal.
And last (but of course not least) is
yours truly, the editor of thiS newsletter,
Patty Gillespie. A writer-editor by
classification, I have served in various
capacities over a 14-year ciVil serVice
career in the Soil Conservation Service,
Federal AViation Administration, and
Bureau of Reclamation. While efforts at
this publication are interesting,
sometimes frustrating. mostly rewarding
experiences: above all, the newsletter is
YOUR publication. Contributions from
many, including editorial and other
comments, the aid of GPO typesetters
and printers, and the designer and
layout artist, all make "Salinity Update"
what II is. Keep your articles coming.

Forum Drafts Legislation

As this newsletter goes to press, final
revisions are being made on a legislative
package to modify Title II of the
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Act. Public Law 93-320. The Bill has
been developed by the Colorado River
BaSin Salinity Control Forum and is
being introduced' by Senator Bill
Armstrong of Colorado with co-
sponsors from throughout the Basin.
ThiS bill would authorize certain
addItional measures to assure
accomplishment of the objectives of
Title II of Public Law 93-320 and for
other purposes. The measure i:... needed
to clarify questions related to the
program and to resolve issues
associated with expediting program
implementation. The measure was
developed by th" States of Arizona,
California, Colorado, Nevada, New
Mexico. Utah, and Wyoming acting
through the Foru'm. representatives of
the States' Governors.
The bill provldc:s for the following:
1. Conditional construction

authorization of six new units: Stage I of
the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit and
McElmo Creek Unit in Colorado: Stage I
of the Uinta BaSin Unit, Utah: Palo Verde
Irrigation District Unit, California
(approximately 10% of area); Salrne
Water Use and Disposal Opportunities
Unit: and Sinbad Valley Unit. Colorado
(Bureau of Land Management unit)
2. . ProvisIons for contracting with
energy development interests that hold
potential for cost-effective use of
brackish and saline waters.
3. Provisions whereby
interconnected canal and lateral
systems that have partial salinity
benefits can be improved and those
related costs made a part of the salinity
control program.
4. The protection of valuable wildlife
resources.
5. Implementation of a new
Department of Agriculture program
which takes full advantage of the
capabilities of Agriculture's agencies in
lieu of the "programs available"
approach currently being followed. The
program would continue to utilize the
capabilities of the currently participating
agencies in this particularly cost-
effective salinity control activity while
eliminatrng salinity control program
impedimenls in the areas of cost-share
limitatIons. contracting authorities,
selection of practices, and program
assistance to assure effective systems
operation.
6. Provision for development and
implementation of a program for salinity
control on lands administered by the
Bureau of Land Management.
7. Assumption by the Basin States of
an additional cost-share burden where
25 percent of the Federal investment in
onfarm programs would be repaid
through the Basin Funds.

Price-5an Rafael Rivers Unit

The Price and San Rafael Rivers
originate In the mountains of east-
central Utah and provide tributary flows
to the Green and Colorado Rivers. The
study area IS principally desert with an