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<br />Second, onsite evaporation data are needed to further refine the slzlng of <br />evaporation ponds. A Pan Evaporation Station should be established and <br />operated in Si nbad Valley for at least 1 year. <br /> <br />Third, the abandoned wildcat well, No.1 Sinbad Unit, should be evaluated for <br />injection suitability. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS <br /> <br />The BLM's future efforts in salinity control should emphasize the <br />identification of significant salinity source areas on public lands. <br />Effective management for salinity reduction including control structures would <br />be recommended and implemented where appropriate. Areas in moderately to <br />highly saline soils which have accelerated erosion are being identified <br />through the BLM planning system. Watershed activity plans would be developed <br />for those areas and implemented as funds permit. The watershed practices that <br />may be effective in salinity control include gully plugs, contour furrowing, <br />pitting, ripping, retention and detention structures, and the implementation <br />of allotment and habitat management plans. The cost of these watershed <br />treatments are estimated at $30 to $40 per acre (USDI, 1982). <br /> <br />BUM feels that these salinity control projects, with secondary benefits to <br />erosion control, water supply for livestock and wildlife, and/or improved <br />forage production would be more consistent with the Bureau's multiple-use <br />philosophy. We feel greater net salinity benefits would be obtained at less <br />cost than point-source discharge projects like that proposed for Sinbad <br />Valley. <br /> <br />BLM has not constructed any structural projects with the primary intent of <br />reducing salinity. We have, however, constructed check dams, retention dams, <br />and contour furrows for flood and erosion control on sal ine soil s in the Grand <br />Valley. <br /> <br />The Soil Conservation Service estimates 80,000 tons of salt comes from erosion <br />of saline soils in the Grand Valley of Colorado each year (USDA, 1977). Salt <br />content of these sediments originating from Mancos shale in the area is highly <br />variable. Sediments from hillsides has a mean soluble mineral content of <br />approximately 2 percent, while the mean salt content of alluvial bed materials <br />near saline hills ranges from 3 to 5 percent (Laronne and Schumm, 1977). Salt <br />content for Mancos derived sediments will be assumed to be 3 percent in this <br />repo rt. <br /> <br />Sediment yield from ungrazed Badger Wash Basins (Mancos derived soils) <br />averages 2000 to 2600 tons/mile 2/year (Lusby, Reid and Knipe, 1971). These <br />values translate to a sediment yield of 3 to 4 tons/acre/year. A 3.5 <br />ton/acre/year value will be assumed in this report. <br /> <br />0022G5 <br /> <br />14 <br />