WSP03141

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1975
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Quality of Water - Colorado River Basin - Progress Report No. 7 - January 1975
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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"(b) It shall he the policy that the flow weiRhted average
annual salinity in the lCl'l.'er main stem of the Colorado River
System be maintained at or below the average value found during
1972. To carry out this polIcy, water quality standards for
salini~. and a plan of implementation for salinity control shall
be developed and implemented in accordance with the principles
of paragraph (c) of this section, below.

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"(c) TIle States of Arizona, California, Colorado, ~evada. ~e....
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming are required to adopt and submit for
approval to the Environmental Protection Agency on or before
October 18, 1975:

"(1) Adopted water quaIi ty 5 tandards for salinity including
numeric criteria consistent with the policy stated above
for appropriate point.c; in the Colorado River System, and

"(2) A plan to achieve compliance .....ith these standards as
expeditiously as practicable prOVided that:

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"(1) The plan shall identify State and Federal regulatory
au thor i ties and pro~rams necessary to achieve compliance
wi th the plan.

"(if) The salinity problem shall be treated as a basin-
.....ide problf'm that needs to be solved in order to maintain
lower main stem salinity at or belOW' 1972 levels .....hile
the Basin States continue to develop their Compact-
apportioned .....aters.

"(1 ii) The ~oa 1 of the plan sh~l1 be to ach ieve compliance
with the adopted standards by July 1, 1983. The date of
cornpli.1nce with the adopted s~ndards shall t.1ke into
account the necessity for Federal Salinity control actions
set forth in the plan. Abatement measures within the
control of the States shall be implemented as soon as
practicable.

"(1V) Salinity levels in the lNer main stem may
temporarily increase above the 1972 levels if control
measures to offset the increases are included in the
control pl.1n. HO\o,'ever. compliance .....lth 1972 levels
shall be a primary consideration.

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"(v) The feasibilit}" of establishin~ an interstate
institution for salinity management shall be evaluated."

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