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. . . Sll~l1ARY SHEET Rig Snnrlv River llnit Colorado River t.Jater QU<ll icy IITlprOVement Program LOC.\TI(1N The Big Sandy River Llnie is Ideated in southwestern Wyoming at')l1g the Big 5.3:1dy River, a tributary of the Gr~~n River, in the Upper Colorado Riv'~r Basin. PURPOSE A 1-4 I'V A The purpose of the Big Sandy River Unit investiga- tion is to determine the feasibiLity of lowering the salt inflow to the Big Sandy River. The over- all purpose is to reduce salinity in the Colorado River system. BACKGROUND Feasibility-level planning of the ized by the Colorado River Bas in Act of 1974 (Public La.... 93-320) 96-375 of October 3, 1980. unit .....:'lS author- Salinity Control and Public L.aw The potential project seeks to reduce salt pickup from seeps and spring$ .910ng a 26-mile reach of the Big Sandy River west of Eden, Wyoming, Investiga- tions indicate that saline seeps. totaling some 33 cfs, surface along t:hc seepage area downstream. The sali nity of the seeps varies from 1.000 mgIL to 6,000 mg/L with a tot~l annual contribution of over 110,000 tons of salt to the river, resulting in .an increase in salinity at Imperial Dar.'l of 9 mg/L. Indications are that salt is picked up by excess irrigation water contact ing the shale of the Green River FOIT.latio:l beneath the sl.!!"face and eventually seeps into the river. The Soil Conservat ion Service conducted a study with on-farm solutiOllS to the salinity problem. The Bure~u study is focusing on off-farm solutions. The investigations are seeking loIays to intercept the springs and seeps from the Big Bend area and to transport and ultimately treat or dispose of the saline w.Jter. Beneficial use of the saline water is being sought as one means of disposal. Several energy related industries have expressed interest in using this saline water. STATUS Feasibility investigations have been ongoing since October 1980 with the issuance of the Notice of Initiation of Investigation. A plan of study and public involvement plan have been prepared pre- senting the objectives, procedures, and the sched- ule of the study. The investigation is to be conducted in two phases. Phase I will conclude with select ion of a recom- mended plan. Phase II will involve data gathering and engineering design of the recommended plan. A p18nning team has heen fanned which includes State and Federal agency representatives, local and regional officials and individuals and representa- tives from private industry. April lCJ82 The Pha~e I contract for the development of h~poth- ('ses and anilly~~es of apprais3l level alternat ive pl~ns was awarded to Sm'.e Murphy and Afl~ociates of Denver. In r.ecemb~r. the contractor submitted a problem irlentification and qunntification (PIQ) re- port which d,~[ails the gcn"";hydrology of the project area and explains the salt loading mechanisms. The contractor has begun appraisal level investigations on nine alternative plans involving interception of \later from the Big Sandy River or from well fields and transports it to evaporation ponds, industries or desalt ing plants. Prel iminary invest igat ions will be documented and presented to the planning team and the public in the spring of 1982. Inves- tigation of alternatives will continue with addi- tional iterations until late sununer 1982 when a recommended plan is to be selected. Phase Il will include a detailed feasibility analy- sis of the recommended pl.Jn. This phase will en- tail engineering, hydrogeologic, ground water, enviromental, economic, social, and cultural studies. It will culminate in a feasibility report accompanied by a draft environmental statement scheduled for late calendar year 1984. A final envirorunental slatemp..nt and Commissioner's report are scheduled for late 1985 loItJile the Secre- tary's report and final envirorunental report are scheduled for submittal to Congress in early 1986. "'" SWEETWATER lEal PROJECT LANDS . ,. "I , , ,<.",'IIIU..