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~ -..J CJ1 ~ An amendment to S,268 was recently introduced by Senator Hecht (Nevada) to provide for additional hydroelectric development at Hoover Dam, settlement of a power allocation dispute between the lower basin states, and a 2112 mill per kilowatt-hour surcharge on Hoover power sold in Nevada and California to help finance the salinity control program, Dirty Devil River Unit, UT Approximately 140,000 tons of salt per year enters the Colorado River from the Dirty Devil River, That salt comes from the areas of the basin shown on the map, This conclusion is based on analysis of data collected over the past several years and measurements and observations Reclamation has made since initiating the study last summer, Reclamation also gained some knowledge by talking to area ranchers and other residents who know about water movement and salinity in the basin, More data is needed to confirm and refine the estimates, In general, Reclamation is looking for locations where the water is of sufficient volume and the salt concentrated enough that collection and control measures will be economical. Although about 61 percent of salt loading in the basin results from natural surface runoff, that salt is of such a low concentration or so difficult to control that it has poor cost- effectiveness. Point sources on the other hand, like springs and mine discharge, which account for about 24 percent of the total, usually have higher concentrations and are more cost-effective to control. Irrigation improvements, such as winter water features, can be cost-effective as well. Irrigation drainage accounts for about 15 percent of basin salinity, Lower Muddy Creek This year Reclamation will be taking a closer look at South Salt Wash (near Emery), Salt Wash, and other tributaries in the lower end of the Muddy Creek drainage, As the map shows, a large percentage of salt originates in this area in the form of springs and surface runoff. The springs and the concentrated saline groundwater associated with them may be controllable, ,} \ '-....-...... I ( I / \ \ \ 22% I L NATURAL RUNOFF IRRIGATION DRAINAGE 20% NATURAL RUNOFF IRRIGATION DRAINAGE COAL MINE DISCHARGE 37% NATURAL RUNOFF SPRINGS I l~) \ \ , , d '\?; ';...... . :\ t~;J:;~O~:::'~G; !), 1../"_/ .... --.....r__\ Dirty Devil River Unit probably by pumping the water from wells and disposing of it by injection into deep wells or evaporation in shallow ponds. It could also be used: - as powerplant cooling water; - as process water for tar sands development; or - for power generation in a solar salt gradient pond, The "Aquatrain" could pick up saline water and carry it to a powerplant for use as cooling water. The map shows a proposed Aquatrain route through the Dirty Devil River Basin. Emery Area Salt entering Muddy Creek in this area comes from surface runoff and groundwater flowing over and through saline shales. Irrigation drainage, including canal seepage, contributes to saline groundwater. Eliminating winter canal seepage by piping winter canal flows is a cost-effective salinity control measure. Piping or concrete lining the entire canal system is not cost effective based solely on salinity control; however, it could be if a portion of the costs are paid by the irrigation company. A small portion of saline groundwater,less than 1 percent of the total basin salinity, is wastewater from Consolidated Coal's Browning Mine. We will study measures to control this flow. Additional work in the Emery area will involve canal seepage studies, groundwater studies, and cost analyses of altemative control methods. The continued support of ,,~ .... \ \ \ ) / ./ .- ./' ............'-./ irrigation companies and people in the area will be essential in successfully implementing control measures, Fremont River Reclamation hasn't found any significant salt sources in this area that would be economically controllable, so less emphasis is being placed on the Fremont area in the investigation. Most of the Fremont salinity is caused by diffuse natural runoff with some isolated irrigation drainage, Big Sandy River, WY Reclamation's recommended plan would remove saline water by collection wells in the spring and seep area of the Big Sandy River and pump the water via a pipeline to a proposed Chevron fertilizer plant near Rock Springs for use and disposal. The final Relamation/State joint report was presented to the State Legislature in December 1982. The State Legislature authorized funds for the study. The plan formulation working document has been completed and the planning report and appendices are now being prepared. Implementation of USDA's onfarm program has been delayed pending resolution of the Reclamation off-farm salinity studies, The State of Wyoming has contracted for an independent review of the USDA and Reclamation plans.