WSP05094

• File Number: 8277.600.10
• Description: Big Sandy River Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: WY
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/1988
• Title: U.S.D.A. Selected Plan - Big Sandy River Unit
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Definite Plan Report

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FOREWORD

Authority for Study

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The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Public Law 93-320, signed
June 24, 1974) provides authority for the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to participate in, the Colorado River Basin Salinity
Control Program along with the United States Department of the Interior
(USDI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the seven Basin
states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and
Wyoming. Title II of the Act (Sec. 203) directs the Secretary of the
Interior to cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture in carrying out
research, demonstration projects, and in implementing onfarm irrigation
improvement and water management practices and programs which will
further the objectives of the Salinity Control Program upstream of
Imperial Dam on the Colorado River.

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A Memorandum of Understanding between USDI and USDA, effective November 27,
1974, was entered into under the authority of the Interdepartmental Work
Service Act of March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 1084), as amended; the Economy
Act of June 30, 1932, (31 U.S.C. Sec 686); and the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Act of June 24, 1974 (88 Stat. 266). A Memorandum of
Agreement, effective March 27, 1975, was entered into between the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) to
implement the specific cooperative activities called for under Title II
of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act. SCS River Basin
Surveys and Investigations are authorized under Public Law 83-566 (Sec. 6),
with added planning authority under Public Law 93-320, Sec. 203(a)(I)
and (b) (1).

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Historical Development

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The Big Sandy River Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Program is one of the diffused source control areas mentioned in
Section 203 of the Act (Title II). It is predominantly an agricultural
area. This area, consisting of portions of three counties--Fremont,
Sublette, and Sweetwater--is primarily utilized by livestock, both
cattle and sheep. Located within the approximate center of the area is
the Eden Valley Irrigation Project, the subject of this salinity study
by the USDA.

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Irrigation was introduced in the valley in 1886 when settlers began to
divert water from the Big Sandy River. Due to project actions beginning
with the Eden Irrigation and Land Company in the early 1900's, the Rock
Springs Land and Water Company and the Wyoming Land and Water Company in
the 1930's, and the existing Eden Valley Irrigation and Drainage
District, there has been an increase of irrigated land in Eden Valley to
the present 15,700 acres of the 18,370 water-righted acres. During
1962-73, the Eden Valley irrigation project served an avera~~ \'~ 1, ,.,
84 farms, averaging 173 acres per farm. Total farm populatto~ts . I
279 people; 79 of the 84 operators currently are part-time farmers.

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