WSP04506

• File Number: 8272.100.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 5/1/1987
• Author: CRBSCF
• Title: Proposed Report on the 1987 Review - Water Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Federal Programs

(;.j.)

In the authorizing legislation for the Colorado River
Storage Project (Public Law 84-485), the San Juan Chama and
Navajo Indian Irrigation Projects (Public Law 87-483), and
the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (Public Law 87-590),
Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to study
the quality of water of the Colorado River system and to
investigate all possible means of improving the quality of
such waters. In partial response to this direction,
Reclamation has published 13 biennial reports which
summarize the existing water quality conditions in the
Basin including projections of future conditions.
An additional response to the Congressional direction
on Colorado River water quality was the initiation in 1971
af the comprehensive Colorado River Water Quality
Improvement Program (CRWQIP). The intent of this program
is to invesll~ate the means by which salinity control
objectives would be achieved.
By reference to the recommendations of the Seventh
Session of the Conference in the Matter of Pollution of the
Interstate Waters of the Colorado River and Its Tributaries
(1972), Title II of Public Law 93-320 directs the Secretary
of the Interior to expedite the investigation, planning,
and implementation of the salinity control program defined
b)" the CRI,Qlj>.
Publ ic Law 93-320'. also established the program
objective of treating salinity as a basinwide problem to be
solved in order to maintain salinity concentrations at or
below 1972 levels in the lower main stem of the river while
the Basin states continue to develop their
Compact-apportioned waters. Specifically, the Act
authorized the construction, operation, and maintenance of
four salinity control projects (Paradox Valley, Grand
Valley, Las Vegas Wash, and Crystal Geyser units) and the
expeditious completion of planning reports on 12 other
projects listed below:

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Irrigation Source Control
Lower Gunnison Basin Unit
Uinta Basin Unit
Colorado River Indian Reservation Unit (deferred)
Palo Verde Irrigation District Unit

Point Source Control
LsVerkin Springs Unit
Lower Virgin River Unit
Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit

Diffuse Source Control (non-point source)
Price River 'Unit
San Rafael River Unit
Dirty Devil River Unit
McElmo Creek enit
Big Sandy River Unit

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