WSP02356

• File Number: 8273.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Federal Agencies - Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1987
• Author: DOI BOR
• Title: Salinity Update - October 1987 - A Quarterly Report on the Colorado River Water Improvement Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

1-4
00
U1
N

Nielson, U.S. Congressman, Utah;
Jack Barnett, Executive Director,
Colorado River Salinity Control
Forum; Calvin Sudweeks, Director,
Bureau of Water Pollution Control,
Utah Department of Health.

Paradox injection well
now at 16,000 feet.

Drilling operations have been
successfully completed to a depth
of about 16,000 feet. All coring
and casing installations have also
been completed.
Office personnel collected injec-
tion formation water samples
during the drill stem test to deter-
mine compatibility of the Paradox
brine with the deep formation
water.
A contract for the brine pipeline
which will transport Paradox brine
to the injection test well was
awarded September 17, 1987, for
the amount of $1,600,000. The
award was made to Weeminuche
Construction Authority of Towaoc,
Colorado, under the Small Busi-
ness Administration 8(a) set-aside
program for small, economically
disadvantaged businesses.
The brine pipeline is for collec-
tion and transmission of the
Paradox Valley Brine to the injec-
tion facilities. The term of the con-
tract is 300 days. Surlace treat-
ment facilities and injection
facilities to be used in conjunction
with the brine pipelines will be con-
structed under separate contract.

Costs increase in
Price-San Rafael
Rivers unit

A coordination meeting was
held in August with the Soil

/
..

'.'

Conservation Service and the
Utah Division of Water Resources
to discuss revised cost estimates.
Since the estimated cost per ton
of salt removed is considerably
higher than previously anticipated,
the State desired input from the
Colorado River Basin Salinity Con-
trol Forum. A brief status report
was prepared and discussed at
the Forum's work group meeting
on September 23, 1987.
The work group recommended
continuing the study as Reclama-
tion and SCS had begun - with
the entire area instead of stages.
The more cost-effective areas
would, of course, be implemented
first with other areas implemented
as needed.

BlM submits report to
Congress

This report was prepared as
directed by the 1984 amendment
to the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Act (Public Law 98-
569). The Secretary was directed

"to develop a comprehensive
program for minimizing salt
contributions to the Colorado
River from lands administered
by the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment (BLM) and submit a
report which describes the
program and recommended im-
plementation actions to the
Congress and to the members
of the advisory council..."

The BLM administers approxi-
mately 40 percent (48 million
acres) of the lands in the
Colorado River Basin above Im-
perial Dam-approximately 7.2 mil-
lion of these acres contain saline
soils. It is impossible to determine

...---)

;-

,,::....

exact amounts of salt contributed
from BLM lands because owner-
ship patterns are complex and
saline ground water yields have
not been quantified. Approximate-
ly 11,000 tons of salt added to the
Colorado River from the upper
basin accounts for 1 mg/L in-
crease at Imperial Dam.
Salts enter the River system
from both point and non point
sources, with nonpoint sources
being the greatest contributor.
Controlling salinity from nonpoint
sources is closely related to con-
trolling sediment yield. Vegetation
cover is the most important
management variable influencing
runoff and sediment yield. Major
point sources will be brought to
the attention of the Bureau of
Reclamation. Saline wells and
springs will be controlled where
appropriate.
BLM has developed a resource
management planning process to
make basic land-use decisions.
Through this process, BLM iden-
tifies and evaluates salinity control
activities. The effect of manage-
ment actions on salt yields to the
Colorado River will be determined
by environmental analyses.
Salinity control is accomplished
through proper land use and in a
way that enhances other resource
values. The BLM's role in reduc-
ing salinity contributions from
public lands is the implementation
of land management practices.
The BLM will control salinity on
public lands through techniques
that are cost-effective and provide
multiple resource benefits. includ-
ing salinity control.
Copies are available by calling
[phone] or writing BLM
Printed Material Distribution Sec-
tion, Denver Federal Center, PO
Box 25047, Denver CO 80225-
0047. Refer to pamphlet P-253
when ordering.