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, " CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Purpose of Plan of Study This plan of study has been prepared to outline the upcoming feasibility investigation for the Big Sandy River Unit of the Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program concerning plans for data collection, exchange of informa- tion, plan formulation and evaluation, scheduling of work, and input from various offices of the Water and Power Resources Service (Water and Power) and other agencies. It also provides a plan for public involvement. The need for the study and the work required to satisfy its requirements is outlined. The organization of the study team and the methods to be employed are discussed, and the legal requirements and constraints governing the effort are identi- fied. In short, the plan of study will document the essential elements of the investigation. Questions concerning the study shall be directed to Team Leader, Big Sandy River Unit, Grand Junction Projects Office, 764 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction, Colorado 8l50l. <"'. /:! ,-;- ,...,~'1"i;l ';"" Purpose of the Investigation The investigation is being conducted to identify and delineate the saline ground water system or systems in the Big Sandy River area of Wyoming that are annually contributing about 110,000 tons of dissolved solids to the Big Sandy River which in turn is deposited into the Green River and then into the Colo- rado River. Saline seeps and springs drain into the Big Sandy River along a l5-mile reach located west of Eden. The combined discharge is about 25 to 30 cubic feet per second (cfs) and varies in concentration from 3,000 to 5,500 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The investigation will study alternative benefi- cial uses of the saline water and identify, study, and evaluate alternative plans, which if implemented, would reduce the current salt contribution. Because of the large volume of water and salt produced by the springs and seeps, potential beneficial uses and disposal methods will be of particular concern. Each alternative plan will be evaluated from technical, economic, social and environmental standpoints. t/~~"''-' 'fr'j!~-Jji ';-:--., One of the major problems facing the people in the Colorado River drain- age is that of maintaining adopted salinity standards while the Basin States continue to develop their compact apportioned waters. The Colorado River at its headwaters in the mountains of north-central Colorado has a salinity of only about 50 mg/L. The salinity progressively increases downstream as a result of water diversions and salt contributions from a variety of sources and in 1977 averaged about 82l mg/L at Imperial Dam, the last major diversion point in the United States. Unless control measures are undertaken, the con- centration will continue to increase) reaching levels estimated by the Water and Power Resources Service of 1,090 to l,140 mg/L at Imperial Dam by the year 2000. Water of 1,000 mg/L or less is generally considered to be satisfactory 2 G'~fL, '/O