WSP06290

• File Number: 8277.600.10
• Description: Big Sandy River Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: WY
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 5/1/1986
• Title: U.S.D.A. Selected Plan - Big Sandy River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Definite Plan Report

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INTRODUCTION

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
on-farm 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,

The Big Sandy River Unit, Wyoming (see figure I-i), is one of the
diffused source control areas mentioned in section 203 of the act
(title II), This USDA study investigated the problems and formulated
alternative plans to reduce salinity from the irrigated area. The
alternatives developed include practices to improve on-farm irrigation
efficiencies, land and irrigation retirement, and various combinations
to reduce salinity.

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 (BR) 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)(1) and (b) (1).

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Preliminary environmental information and cumulative impacts for
the 16 original units in title II of the Colorado River Salinity Control
Act have been presented in a final environmental statement on the
Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program (FES 77-15). The
statement was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation, Department of
Interior, and the Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture,
and was filed with the Council of Environmental Quality on May 16, 1977.

The SCS has leadership for this USDA study. The investigations
were carried out using information developed from ongoing assistance
programs, research, and demonstration projects of the Bureau of
Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency, Science and Education
Administration, Office of Water Resource Research and Technology,
University of Wyoming, and the Wyoming Natural Resources Board.

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