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<br />Co) <br />r:} <br />~ <br />w <br />~ <br />en <br /> <br />northeastern New Mexico, the quality of water is probab~ good, but inade- <br />quate quantity will prevent much development. In the foothill area, the <br />Cimarron flows through beds of shale and sandstone and the 'Jater general~ <br />contains moderate to high sulfate concentrations. Available records indi- <br />cate that near Boise City, Oklahoma, the Cimarron water could be used for <br />irrigation although water stored in a reservoir there might not be entire~ <br />satisfactory for public water supplies because of its sulfate content. <br /> <br />Near the point .mere the Cimarron River leaves the H~gn p~~ns <br />and enters the region of Permian outcrops, its average chemical composition <br />ChW1GCS. Salt springs and seeps from underlying salt beds increase the <br />proportion of salt to gypsum so that near ;,;ocane, Oklahoma the river water <br />begina to fall into the doubtful classification for irrigation. Tributary <br />inflov{ in the area is also saline as shown by records of Crooked Creek near <br />Nye, Kansas. <br /> <br />Pollution of the waters of the lower reach of the Cimarron River by <br />natural salt beds and oil field brine, together with pollution from munici- <br />pal sewage, impairs water quality in the lower third of the Cimarron River. <br />The principal man-made pollution problem is that of oil field brine. The <br />genel'ally poor mineral quality of the water extends downstream from about <br />the Kansas-Oklahoma line to the mouth. <br /> <br />Verdigris River Basin <br /> <br />This basin has had a long history of difficulties associated with <br />water quality impairment principal~ as a result of industrial waste pollu- <br />tion. 011 field briDe and 011 refinery waste pollution present serious <br />problems throughout much of the basin. Municipal sewage pollution, while <br />a problem, is overshadowed by industrial waste problems. In general, mu- <br />nicipal sewage pollution causes only fair~ limited local damage to water <br />quality. Improvements in sewage treatment plants are needed at eleven <br />cities in the Verdigris Basin. Five of these cities need to build new <br />plants or IIIll.ke substantial revisions of existing ones. Oil refinery <br />wastes from refineries at Neodesha and Coffeyville, Kansas, have re- <br />sulted in some quality impairment in the past. For a number of years <br />the Neodesha refinery has impounded its w.stes and at present causes <br />little, if any, difficulty. While pollution has damaged the quality of <br />water in this stream, the quantity of water available and the nature of <br />the pollution problem make this stream practicable for reclamation. <br />Some cities are following the recommendations of the Kansas state Board <br />of Health to provide additional treatment. It is expected that the <br />other cities which have not yet acted will follow suit. Minimum flows <br />are being increased by storage provided in flood control dams on the <br />headwaters of the Verdigris River. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />"' <br /> <br />Wastes from the refinery at Coffeyville are still discharged to the <br />Verdigris River. It is alleged that these wastes have been responsible for <br />the serious taste and odor difficulties at the Now.ta, Oklahoma, w.ter treat- <br />ment plant. However, this proved to be a limited possibility which can occur <br />under unusual conditions. A detailed Verdigris River Investigation of the <br /> <br />5-10 <br />