WSP03731

• File Number: 8041
• Description: Section D General Studies - NPDES/Water Quality
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 11/30/2000
• Author: BOR, West. Co. Off.
• Title: Water Quality -Water Quality Team Correspondence - Finding of No Significant Impact, Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area Selenium Remediation Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

Ootions to solve
tire Problem

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Ootlons to control sources of selenium':
Change irrigation to sprinkler systems
Line or pipe irrigation canals & ditches
Best Management Practices (BMPs)

U
U
U

Ootlons to treat contaminated water:
Use plants to absorb selenium U
Intercept/treat (e.g. w/activated aluminum) Y
Reverse osmosis/othcr physical treatment Y
Biological treatment U

Ootlons to transDort/dlsDose contaminated water:
Pipe drains & seep water to the river Y
Divert & reuse drain water elsewhere Y
Line collector ditch (to prevent inflow) N
Collect and use deep well injection Y
Remove contaminated sediments NIU
Collect and evaporate water in ponds Y

OtJIlons to dilute contaminated water:
Add Colorado River water to flush/dilule U
Remove beaver dams Y IU
Dilute drains at their source U

Do/Ions with no construction needed:
Improve irrigation efficiency N
Change land use (agricultural to residential)U
Buyag lands that contribute selenium Y

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. Table 1 -Screened Options

Criteria

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Y Y N
Y Y N
Y Y/U N
Y U N
Y Y/U Y
Y Y Y
Y U N

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5sJ:. (Differing opinions within Ihe team are represented by 2 symbols)

y ~ Yes, meets criteria
N = No, doesn't meet criteria
U = Undetennined or doesn'l sufficiently address the crileria

Comments / Primarv reasons for eliminatinrz as an DD/ion
May not be compatible with soils/crops grown in this arealnot sufficiently effective
Not sufficiently effective at OMWA
Long term effectiveness is questionable Inot sufficiently effective

Concern about bird impacts I unproven technology & plant disposal issues
Concerns ifit will work & how 10 dispose of waste from the treatment process
Concerns about cost and need for waste brine pond
Ponds may need netting & would have to be off-sitel unproven technology

Concern about long tenn liability of a pipeline as a point sOllrce discharge
Concern about finding sufficient alternate uses
Not effective
Concern about potential high cost
Concern: recurrence & disposal of contaminated sediment/not sufficiently effective
Retained but lots of potential problems including pond siting, size, bird usage, etc,

Uncenain whether sufficient water can be divened inlo the area year round
Cuts retention time; does not affect overall loading passing through Ihe wetlands
Unrealistic amount ofdilulion water needed to sufficiently reduce concentrations

These are non-structural options,
Meet crop need wI correct amount of water at right time /not significantly effective
Willing landowners only / not sufficiently effective
Willing sellers only; need to isolate hot spots; social/economic, land mgt. concerns

ODtions (or reDlacement water sUDolv: I) Deliver river water via a gravity ditch, 2) Pump water (consider a hydraulic pump), 3) Collect & deliver irrigation lailwater, 4) Deliver spills
from Orchard Mesa canals. These are not options to solve the problem but options for a replacement water supply, which is needed as a component of several alternatives, These were
not evaluated using the criteria above, but will be examined separately as water supply alternatives,

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Y
Y

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I Source controls are only partially effective in reducing deep percolalion, and !.hough the volume may be reduced, continued irrigation will add drainage lo the ground waler which picks up selenium. There wuuld mosllikcly
still remain a need to address the remainder of the contaminated drainage nowing into a specilic area, like OMWA,

Y
Y
Y
Y

Y
Y
Y
U

Y Y Y Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y
Y N Y N N
Y Y U Y Y
Y NIU U Y N
Y Y Y Y Y
U U Y Y Y/U
Y U Y U Y
Y U U y U/N
Y N Y Y N
Y U U U N
Y Y Y Y Y