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<br />>' <br /> <br />o <br /><Xl <br />-J <br />(); <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members <br /> <br />FROM: Steve Miller <br />Interstate Streams and Hydrologic Investigations Section <br /> <br />DATE: March 2, 1998 <br /> <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Agenda Item 18d, March 10-11, 1998 Board Meeting- <br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program- <br />I. Triennial Review <br />ii. Standards Discussion <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />This memo briefly introduces an upcoming review process that the staff will be participating in <br />, , <br />regarding the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (CRBSCP). This agenda item is <br />informational only and no Board action is required at this time. Staff will continue to update the <br />Board as the process unfolds over the next 18 months. Comments and questions can be discussed <br />during the Board meeting or addressed directly to staff at any time. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Excessive levels of salinity, commonly measured as total dissolved solids (TDS), while not toxic or <br />of significant Pllblic health concern, do impair the usability of surface water supplies through <br />reduced crop yields, damages to domestic water distribution systems and household plumbing, and <br />added raw water treatment and sewage disposal costs. Rising salinity levels in the Colorado River <br />began causing concerns for water users in the Lower Basin and Mexico in the 1960's. The increaSes <br />were due in part to new irrigation projects and transmOlUltain diversions coming on line, which both <br />added new salt loads to the river and reduced the high quality inflows which previously diluted the <br />natural salt loads. <br /> <br />:{, <br /> <br />The CRBSCP was created by the 1974 Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) and the <br />CWCB participates with the other basin states in guiding the Program through the CRBSC Forwn <br />(Forwn). In 1975 the Forwn developed a water quality standard for salinity in the Colorado River <br />Basin which were subsequently adopted by each of the seven basin states and approved by the US <br /> <br />! <br /> <br />'<<,,,.40_'" <br /> <br />