WSP04600

• File Number: 8277.100
• Description: Salinity Projects Not Located in Colorado - Colorado River Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/1996
• Title: Report to Congress on the Bureau of Reclamation Basinwide Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Developing Salinity Control Targets

Salt Load Reduction Goals

In cooperation with the Basin States, future salinity control needs are
evaluated and updated every 3 years by Reclamation and reported in the
Forum's report entitled Triennial Review of the Water Quality Standards for
Salinity, Colorado River System. The targets are used by the agencies
participating in the salinity control program to schedule expenditures for
salinity control measures and to evaluate the effectiveness of this plan to
maintain the salinity standards in the future.

Future salinity levels are computed using the Colorado River Simulation
System, a model Reclamation developed to predict the impact of water use
on the Colorado River System. Water use projections are updated and
adjusted biennially. The amount of salinity control reco=ended for
implementation is adjusted to match the projected need.

Table 1 su=arizes the projected salt load reduction targets, subtracts the
salinity control work completed through 1995, and displays the balance of
salinity control needed to meet the standards. Salt load reduction targets
are shown to increase because of projected water development. The last
column shows the amount of funding needed to implement the entire
salinity control program by all three implementing agencies and assumes
that salinity control can be implemented at an average cost of $50 per ton of
salinity control.

Table 1.-Basinwide salinity reduction targets and funding
requirements to maintain the water quality standards for the
Colorado River--{;ombined goals and funding requirements
for BLM, Reclamation, and USDA programs'

Total
reduction
target
Years (tons per year)
Present 517,000
1996-2000 697,000
2001-2005 843,000
2005-2010 1,104,000

Additional
removal
required for each
5-year period
(tons per year)

Total annual
expenditure
needed to
meet targets
($)

180,000
146,000
261,000

22,500,000
18,250,000
32,625,000

1 These requirements and the water quality standards are re-evaluated and updated
every 3 years as required by the Clean Water Act. The amount of salinity control needed
will vary based on actual and predicted changes in water use and the amount of salinity 0 0 C :.; :3
control previously implemented.

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