WSP03719

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 5/19/1977
• Title: Final Environmental Statement - Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - Volume II - Public Comment -- Part 2 of 2 -- Page 147 through end
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

Colorado River Water Quality
EIS Reviewed Improvement Program
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t}0 eviewing Agency Environmental Protection Services

erson/s Preparing Review Dick Serdoz

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POLICY CONSIDERATIO:,S

1. Major direct ~~C 5gCOnca-~ impacts on State.
Desalination projects at LaVerkin Springs, Utah, and Littlefield Springs,
Arizona, will remove approximately 153,700 tons of salt per year from the Virgin
River. Salt concentrations monitored by this agency exceed 3000 ppm which is considere,
unsuitable or injurious for irrigation usage. These upstream projects ~Iill lower this
salt ppm value somewhat, but how much is not stated in this report.

The Littlefield Springs Project will deplete the flow in the Virgin River by
4100 acre-feet per year. The author is unaware of existing water rights on the Virgin,
but perhaps the salt reduction benefits should be compared with water loss anticipated
to fully assess the overall effect on the State.

These two projects will also have some impacts en native fish in the Virgin
as well as the endangered woundfin fish. The impact is unkoown at this time, but I
feel that this should be explored more fully before the project is given a go-ahead,

The desal inization project at Las Vegas Wash will remove 138,000 tons of salt
,. from the Wash, This will decrease the salt level i.n Las Vegas Bay., which is used as
;:.'{i;'the potable water uptake of the Alfred Merrit Smith Water Treatment Plant, which
." supplies potable water to Las Vegas. Again this particular project will lower the
salt ppm value in Las Vegas Bay, but to what extent. is not stated in. this report. This
project will also amount to a 1,900 acre-feet per year loss to the Wash.
(~onhjnue~ .onreverseside).
2. Major indirect impacts on ~tate.

All s fxteen salinity contra lprojects are upstream of Lake Nead. Certal n iy
these projects will have an effect on the potable water uptake of the Alfred Nerrit
Smith Water Treatment Plant. The amount of reduction is unknown. All sixteen projects
~Iill reduce the salt concentration 154 ppm at Imperial Dam, the last diversion on
the Colorado before the river trickles into Mexico.

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