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r w w 00 ':J) That well was plugged in 1968, and in reported to be flowing saline water. within a I-mile radius of the plugged 1969 two other wells in the area were Seepage also appeared in four areas Meeker Well. In 1980 and 1981 the Scott, James. and Marl and Wells were cleaned and plugged. In October 1981, the contractor began a I-year monitoring program to test results of the well plugging. So far, the monitoring of the observation wells has shawn favorable results. with the grount-water levels dropping and seep measurement stations showing that saline inflow into the White River appears to be decreasing. Reclamation will monitor for an additional 2 years to confirm effectiveness of well plugging. B;g Sandy River Unit, Wyoming The Big Sandy River originates in the mountains of west-central Wyoming and flows southerly to Big Sandy Reservoir. where most of the flow is diverted for irrigation. The river annually discharges approximately 167,000 tons of dissolved solids, accounting for 15 mg/L at Imperial Dam. Investigations indicate that surface water enters an aquifer(s) that origi- nates near the Big Sandy Reservoir and extends several miles to the Big Bend area on the 8ig Sandy River. Saline seeps discharge from the aquifer(s) along a 26-mlle reach of the river. Percolating irrigation water circulating below the ground surface also contacts the saline shale of the Green River Formation. resulting in saline water which enters the aquifer and eventually seeps into the 8ig Sandy River. An alternative plan, preferred by the state of Wyoming, proposes removing saline water by collection wells in the spring and seep area of the Big Sandy River and pumping the water vi a a pipeline to a proposed Chevron fertilizer plant near Rock Springs for use and disposal. Rec 1 amat i on and the St ate of Wyomi ng have signed a Memor andum of Agreement outlining the responsibilities of each during the remainder of the inves- tigation. The agreement calls for a draft environmental statement in March 1984 with the final planning report/environmental statement to be filed in December 1984. Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit, Utah The Price and San Rafael Rivers originate in the mountains of east-central Utah and provide tributary flows to the Green and Colorado Rivers. The study area is prinCipally desert. with an arid-to-semiarid climate. Salinity concentrations average 3500 mg/l for the Price River and 4000 mg/L for the San Rafael River. The estimated total dissolved solids contributed by these rivers is approximately 430.000 tons annually. A professional services contract was awarded in September 1981 to conduct investigations for identifying alternative plans capable of reducing the salinity in the rivers. The planning report is scheduled for completion in 1985, xix