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Salinity Control Activities Progress toward construction continued on the Paradox Valley and Grand Valley Units, Colorado. Work on the Las Vegas Wash Unit, Nevada, has been suspended pending reformulation of the Salinity Con. trol Plan. These units were authorized by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93.320, June 24, 1974). Work on the Paradox Unit included the in- stallation of pumps in previously drilled wells and an extension of power lines to provide power to the wells. The well field is being tested to determine the pumping rate that will stop the flow of brine into the Dolores river. The final Environmental Impact Statement was filed with Environ. mental Protection Agency on March 20, 1979. A Special Report was prepared for the Stage I area of the Grand Valley Unit for submittal to Congress. A monitoring plan was devised to measure the effects of Stage I construction in reducing salinity. The five-year trial period or Irrigation Management Services ended and the pro- gram was terminated on the Grand Valley Unit. Enjoying good clean water Feasibility studies continued on 13 other units authorized for investigation. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, planning ac. tivities were concentrated on the Meeker Dome, Lower Gunnison, Uinta Basin, Big Sandy and McElmo Creek Units. Stream flow and water quality data collection con- tinued on the Glenwood.Dotsero Springs, Price.San Rafael and Oirty Devil Units. A first-of-its-kind contract was awarded for professional services to a consulting firm to study methods of reducing saline flows into the White River from the Meeker Dome Unit. The contractor completed a Problem Identification and Quantification Report which identified unplugged oil and gas exploratory wells as the sources pro- ducing the saline water. The contractor will collect further data to verify this hypothesis and then plug the leaking wells. Salinity control A public involvement program was organ- ized for the Meeker Dome Unif and meefings have been held to keep the public informed and to let the public assist in selecting the best plan for con- struction. Test pumping was performed on the 72 wells on the Big Sandy River Unit to identify salinity mechanisms producing the saline water. Eighteen additional wells will be test-pumped this year. Planning activities in the Lower Colorado River Basin were continued on the Laver- kin Springs Unit including studying pre. treatment processes, for desalting or using the saline water for industrial purposes. 7