WSP04648

• File Number: 8220.131.J
• Description: Yellow Jacket Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 1/1/1966
• Title: Water Quality Control Study of the Yellow Jacket Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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first factor is a comparison of the historical increments of TDS and
water contributed to the river in the Project area. Extrapolating by
means of these increments an additional leached salt load was estimated
to be 2.1 tons per irrigated acre. The second factor considered was
the study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation* on the eden Project
which is 170 miles northwest of the Yellow Jacket Project and located
on a similar geologic formation. This study reveals that two tons of
TDS per irrigated acre is contributed by the Project.

Considering a one to one salt balance, the average TDS concentration
in the Yampa River will increase from 139 mg/l to 140 mg/l as a result of
an annual water loss of approximately 8,000 AF per year. However, when
leaching of soluble minerals from the irrigated soil is considered, the
average TDS concentration in the Yampa River at Maybell, Colorado, is
expected to increase from 139 mg/l to 147 mg/l, about 6%. The major
cause for this increase is the leaching of 10,000 tons of solids a year
from 5,400 acres of irrigated land.

In applying the one to one salt balance to the White River Basin, an
average increase in TDS from 439 to 469 mg/l is expected at Watson, Utah.
However, when leaching of the 23,200 acres occurs, an expected 45,000
tons per year is expected. This results in nearly a 14% increase in the
soluble solids loading to the river; and when combined with the evapo-
transpiration water losses, the average TDS concentration at Watson,
Utah, will increase from 439 mg/l to 533 mg/l, a 21% increase.

The combined TDS loading increases and water losses of the Yampa
and White Rivers will change the average concentration in the Green
River at the U. S. Geological Survey station at Ouray, Utah. With the
one to one salt balance the change will be from 392 to 396 mg/l and
with leaching considered the change will be from 392 to 405 mg/l. Figure
8 shows these changes.

Damage Caused by Pollution

As the primary beneficial water use in the Yampa River Basin is
for irrigation and the projected increase in TDS is within the tolerance
limits of these irrigated crops, the damage is indefinable. Inasmuch as
the town of Rangely, Colorado, takes its domestic water supply from the
White River below the Project lands, damages resulting from mineral in-
creases were investigated.

*Quality of Water Colorado River Basin Progress Report, January 1965,
U. S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey.