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<br />w <br />w <br />UJ <br />,- <br /> <br />STATUS REPORT <br />COLORADO RIVER WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The CRWQ I P (Co 1 or ado R 1 ver Water Qu a 1; ty Improvement Progr am) emerged ; n <br />the early 1970's after recognition of the Basinwide salinity problem. <br />Salinity affects more than 12 million municipal, agricultural. and indus- <br />trial water users in the lower basin as well as the Republic of Mexico. <br />This status report assesses the magnitude of the sal ;oity problem in the <br />Basin, reviews the major activities since 1974, and outlines future program <br />strategy. <br /> <br />Basinwide Perspective <br /> <br />Salts _ dissolved minerals - are polluting the Colorado River, threatening <br />the water supply quality in seven states and damaging irrigated crops, <br />causing accelerated pipe corrosion and appliance wear, and creating other <br />economic damages. <br /> <br />The Colorado's heavy salt load of 9 million tons annually already is cost- <br />ing Americans more than $113 million a year. Costs are projected to be <br />$267 million annually by 2010 if controls are not implemented. <br /> <br />Salts come from natural sources such as saline springs, as well as manmade <br />sources. i.e.. return flows of irrigated farmlands. These sources must <br />be controlled and the salinity levels maintained at the 1972 historical <br />level. while the Basin States continue to develop their compact-apportioned <br />waters. The 1972 numeric level was adopted as State standards and approved <br />by the EPA, <br /> <br />Under Public law 93-320, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, the <br />Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) was <br />charged with the lead to work with the Bureau of land Management, the <br />Department of Agriculture. the Environmental Protection Agency, and with <br />State governments to reduce salt contamination. Representative activities <br />being pursued are: <br /> <br />Developing an understanding of river mechanisms which affect <br />salinity <br />Developing and using improved <br />Lining canals and other water <br />Diverting saline point source <br />river <br />Developing alternative uses of a once-unwanted resource - <br />saline water <br /> <br />irrigation techniques <br />delivery systems <br />waters before they reach <br /> <br />the <br /> <br />;x <br />