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~ 'J ~~ ~ Confined animal feeding operations are also required to obtain discharge permits. Permits for feedlots usually require that there be no discharge from control facilities except for overflows resulting from unusual storm events. Most of the feedlots are located in the plains area of the South Platte and Arkansas valleys. Although the potential for pollution from feedlots can be significant, they generally have not been a problem because of their geographic location and the precautions taken to contain runoff. B) Non-point Source Problems Water pollution from non-point sources falls into the follow~ng categories: 1) Irrigated Agriculture - The principal pollutants associated with irrigated agriculture in Colorado are salinity and nitrates. Salt loading from irrigated agriculture is particularly significant in the Colorado River system. Programs are underway in the Grand Valley, Gunnison Valley, and the San Juan Basin area to evaluate and control these problems. High nitrate levels in alluvial groundwater are associated with the use of feedlot wastes and commercial fertilizers on irrigated cropland. The problem is most significant in the South Platte Valley of Weld County, where many of the wells used for drinking water do not meet public health criteria for nitrates. 2) Non-irrigated Agriculture - The principal pollutant associated with dry croplands and rangeland is sediment. Most non-irrigated cropland in Colorado is located on the eastern high plains and generally does not pose serious water pollution problems. 3) Mining - The principal pollutants from mining activities are heavy metals. Early mining activities in Colorado destroyed the aquatic habitat in many mountain streams and approximately 450 miles of degraded streams remain today. The control of water pollution from inactive mines is a difficult and complex process. Since most inactive mines are not truly abandoned, mine owners must be located and notified of the need for remedial measures. Because the mines are not producing, there are limited financial resources available to pay for the clean-up process, the costs of which have traditionally been extremely high. While various new types of relatively low-cost techniques have been proposed for inactive mines, few have actually been tested for cost-effec~iveness under field conditions. The Colorado Department of Natural Resource's Mined Land Reclamation Division, under a grant from the U. S. Office of Surface Mining, is evaluat~ng the feasibility of controlling inactive mine discharge and restoring water quality. The study has focused on two priority areas - the Arkansas River near Leadville and Clear Creek in the vicinity of Idaho Springs. -4-