WSP03307 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION plan if appropriate, and to prepare a feasibility report and the appropriate environmental assessment or statement. If a feasible plan is identified, the report and environmental document may be submitted to Congress by the Secre- tary to seek authorization and funding for construction of the unit. Administration of the Investigation As was pointed out earlier, the directive for performing the study came from the Congress of the United States through the Secretary of the Interior. The Water and Power Resources Service, under the direction of its Commissioner, is responsible to the Secretary for the performance of the study. The Commis- sioner has in turn charged the Director of the Upper Colorado Region of Water and Power to supervise the study. Technical direction and coordination is to be supplied by the Division of Planning and Technical Services, Engineering and Research (E&R) Center in Denver, Colorado. Additional coordination will be supplied by Water and Power's Colorado River Water Quality Office at the E&R Center. Program performance, including all field level work and coordina- tion between government, private, and contract entities, will be done by Water and Power's Grand Junction Projects Office under the supervision of the Proj- ects Manager. -.:.... :;:~~; Description of the Study Area The Big Sandy River Unit is situated about 40 miles north of Rock Springs near the towns of Farson and Eden in southwestern Wyoming. The unit lies within the Big Sandy River drainage basin in Sublette, Fremont, and Sweetwater Counties. The entire basin covers an area of 1,918 square miles from the Wind River Mountains to the confluence of the Big Sandy and Green Rivers. The Big Sandy River Unit is in the lower central part of the basin and covers an area approximately 180 square miles. Smaller streams tributary to the Big Sandy River include Little Sandy, Pacific, and Jack Morrow Creeks. The Eden Valley irrigation project in the central part of the unit includes l7,000 acres served from the Big Sandy and Eden Reservoirs. The Big Sandy River heads near the Wind River Mountains and meanders in a southwesterly direction about lOO miles before joining the Green River. The major saline seeps begin about 3 miles below the confluence of the Big Sandy River with Little Sandy Creek. They continue for the next 15 miles and flow from both sides of the river. Sublettes Flat, a potential evaporation pond site, is located west of the Big Sandy Reservoir and covers an area about 25 square miles. Highway l87 is a paved north-south highway passing through the unit. Access within the unit area is over a few county maintained roads, and unim- proved roads and trails. 4 C ~J1 ('.'8