WSP04023

• File Number: 8272.600.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - Basin Member State Info - Utah
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1990
• Title: Upper Colorado River Basin Rangeland Salinity Control Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Upper Colorado River Basin
West Water Canyon Sub-Basin
Sagers Wash Watershed
14030001-070

N
l~ Phase II - Rangeland Salinity Control Project
W
~) SAGERS WASH WATERSHED: RESOURCE CONDITION EVALUATION

PURPOSE: A Phase I regional resource condition assessment study
of the Colorado River Basin in Utah has been completed. sagers
Wash watershed was rated an 8 on a resource condition scale of 1
to 12. The purpose of the Phase II studies in the Colorado River
Basin is to evaluate the nonpoint sediment and salt pollution
problems. This evaluation will target the source of the problems
on rangeland within individual watersheds with regard to erosion
rates, sediment yield rates, salt yield rates, rangeland
conditions, hydrologic conditions and potential treatment
opportunities. Sagers Wash Watershed has been identified as a
significant nonpoint source for salt and sediment yield and is,
therefore, a target watershed for a Phase II detailed resource
evaluation.

The Phase II series of reports are evaluations of Present
condition, Future without Project condition (FWOP) and Future
With project condition (FWP) in a watershed for salt yield,
sedimentation, erosion, rangeland condition, hydrology and other
pertinent resource parameters. High sediment and salt yielding
areas are identified and targeted for land treatment project
potential. The Present condition is an assessment of the
resource conditions in a watershed at the present time. The FWOP
condition is a modeled condition for the watershed that projects
the Present condition rates and trends into the future for a
period of 25 years. The FWP condition is the projected watershed
condition with the implementation of land treatment measures to
control the identified land resource problems in the target
areas.

PROCEDURE: The rates for salt yield, sedimentation and erosion
will be estimated using the Pacific Southwest Interagency
Committee (PSIAC), 1968, sediment yield estimating procedure
applied ona watershed geomorphic unit basis. A geomorphic unit
is a major physiographic division of a watershed based on
comparable geology, general soil mapping units, hydrology,
topography and ground cover. A targeted area is defined as an
area of land that is in accelerated erosion, excessive sediment
yield and excessive salt yield condition. The targeted area is
capable of being rehabilitated to a condition approximating that
of comparable land in stable resource condition. The targeted
area is identified by the resource evaluation team with the
assistance of resident technical specialists who are familiar

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