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<br />flowing brine wells, the control of erosion in arid lands, and the control of <br />deep percolation on-farm management systems such as sprinkler systems. <br /> <br />..... <br />(l) <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />The use of saline water by industry has not proven to be very <br />implementable due to a reluctance by industry to invest in new, unproven, and <br />relatively expensive technologies. The problem is compounded greatly by the <br />difficulty in timing the Federal portion of construction with that of <br />industry. Industry is very often reluctant to depend on funding from Congress <br />when the success of their business rests on their ability to get into <br />production quickly. On the other hand, Reclamation cannot wait with money in <br />hand to use ~~en opportunities arise due to limitations in how Reclamation is <br />funded. <br /> <br />2. Bureau of Land Management <br /> <br />The present salinity efforts of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) <br />have concentrated on the identification and recommendation for control of <br />significant saline source areas on public lands. BLM has developed a resource <br />management planning system that is multiple-use oriented but emphasizes <br />solutions to specific issues. <br /> <br />Passage of amendments to the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Act in 1984 required BLM to develop a comprehensive salinity control program, <br />and to report to congress and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Advisory Council concerning this program. Utilizing the planning system, <br />saline source areas and management options for control of these sources are <br />being identified. Watershed activity plans addressing salinity and <br />implementation actions will be conducted as funds permit. <br /> <br />The watershed practices that may be effective in salinity control <br />include gully plugs, contour furrowings, pitting, ripping, retention and <br />detention structures, and the implementation of allotment and habitat <br />management plans. The cost of these watershed treatments within Grand Valley, <br />Colorado, as estimated by the Soil Conservation Service, is approximately <br />$30 to $40 per ton of salt remov~d. BLM feels that these salinity control <br />projects, with secondary benefits to erosion and flood control, water supply <br />for livestock and wildlife, and/or improved forage production, are consistent <br />with the multiple-use philosophy of BLM. Reports identifying potential <br />salinity control areas have been completed for eastern Utah and the Montrose, <br />Craig, and Grand Junction Districts in Colorado. <br /> <br />Several activity plans have been completed in the States of <br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Portions of these plans have been implemented <br />with one, Elephant Skin Wash in Colorado. being fully implemented in 1985. <br />This verification project is designed to prevent approximately 600 tons of <br />salt from reaching the Colorado River annually at a cost of $29 per ton. <br /> <br />In addition to nonpoint-source salinity control, BLM has also <br />implemented point-source control measures. Point-source control measures <br />include the plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells. The condition of two <br />plugged saline flowing wells in the piceance Creek Basin was monitored in <br />1985. These wells originally had a flow rate of 90 gallons per minute (gpm) <br />with a dissolved solid concentration of 30,000 mg/L. This is equal to <br />approximately 5,000 tons of salt per year. The plugs are still in place with <br />no seepage to the creek. <br /> <br />VII-8 <br /> <br />- <br />