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<br />Utilizing the 3.5 ton/acre/year sediment yield and a 3 percent salt content <br />for these sediments, a typical acre in a Mancos shale watershed would produce <br />0.105 tons soluble minerals per year. Appropriate watershed treatment could <br />substantially reduce sediment yield, subsequently reducing salt contributions <br />to the Colorado River. For example, a retention dam placed at the mouth of a <br />20 acre watershed would trap 2.1 tons of salt annually. Developing a network <br />of retention dams coupled with watershed practices that reduce runoff and <br />sediment yield could conceivably reduce salt contributions by thousands of <br />tons each year. <br /> <br />A cursory examination of the Grand Junction District indicates several areas <br />may be suitable for treatment. These include Lewis Wash, Indian Wash, and <br />Leach Creek near Grand Junction; Little Salt Wash and Big Salt Wash near <br />Fruita; East Salt Creek, Badger Wash, and West Salt Creek near Mack in the <br />Grand Junction Resource Area. Areas that may be suitable in the Glenwood <br />Springs Resource Area include Big Alkali Creek north of Castle Peak; Horse <br />Creek, Willow Creek, and Poison Creek near Burns; and Government Creek and <br />West Rifle Creek near Rifle. <br /> <br />Before treatment areas can be accurately delineated, a more precise <br />quantification of sediment and salt yields from saline soils on BLM land is <br />needed. This inventory should include an assessment of salinity benefits from <br />various land treatment options. <br /> <br />Any attempt to estimate cost effectiveness <br />detailed management plan is not possible. <br />salinity reduction at Imperial Dam also is <br />st udy . <br /> <br />of land treatments without a more <br />Estimates of milligram per liter <br />not possible without more detailed <br /> <br />0022:;6 <br /> <br />15 <br />