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<br />OD1928 <br /> <br />Region 9 208 Executive Summary <br /> <br />The San Juan Region consisting of Archuleta, Montezuma, La Plata, <br />San Juan, and Dolores County, is an area of tremendous topographical, <br />social, cultural and economic diversity. High mountain peaks of over <br />14,000 Feet to the deserts of the Colorado plateau occur within a very <br />close proximity. The economics of the region are based upon agriculture, <br />mining and recreation. <br /> <br />The water of the region is of generally good quality. Areas of <br />concern include the upper reaches of the Animas River basin where areas <br />of abandoned mining have severly effected Mineral and Cement Creeks. <br />Also of concern is development pressure on the Animas basin from Cascade <br />Creek to Durango. Cascade, Elbert, Purgatoire, Junction and Lightner <br />Creeks are also proposed to receive additional wastewater discharges from <br />domestic facilities. All of these drainages could be facing treatment <br />greater than secondary. Another area of development pressure, which <br />could impact water quality, is the area around Pagosa Springs. Currently <br />there are development plans for several new ski areas in the upper San <br />Juan River basin. Although some of this development may occur in Mineral <br />County, the secondary development and water quality effects would be most <br />strongly felt in Pagosa Springs. <br /> <br />In response to these concerns several avenues of water quality <br />protection and improvement must be pursued. In regard to the areas of <br />abandoned mine drainage, the effect of mine drainage on the stream should <br />be quatified, the most serious sources pinpointed, and a program of <br />control, where feasible, implemented. The Water Quality Control Division <br />intends to begin this effort in the coming year with a statewide <br />non-point source survey which will be conducted with the cooperation of <br />local officials. In the areas of development pressure, coordinated State <br />and local planning efforts must occur to ensure that water quality is <br />maintained. This effort would require stream monitoring and modeling, <br />sound land use and financial planning, and the spirit of cooperation. <br /> <br />Progress has occurred in several areas in the region in the past <br />year. The Hermosa Sanitation District completed construction and began <br />operation in June of 1984. This facility eliminated twelve small <br />wastewater facilities and the need for construction of several other <br />small facilities. The new Durango wastewater facility is approaching <br />completion and should be operational in the late Fall of 1984. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-1- <br />