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. etc.!. Some people have suggested nothing can be done, while others believe better water management is the key. The NIWQP believes it makes sense to start thinking about solutions. Planning will begin later this year to identify sensible solutions in conjunction with stakeholder groups like the Gunnison River Basin Selenium Task Force. Plans are to hold public workshops in Delta or Montrose. Selenium Task Force The Selenium Task Force was convened by the Colorado Water Quality Control Division in early 1998. Its purpose is to find solutions and funding to address four Gunnison River basin stream segments that don't comply with the State's 5 ppb selenium standard for water. These segments include the lower Gunnison River below Delta, the Uncompahgre River below Montrose, Sweitzer lake and some tributaries of the North Fork of the Gunnison. This stakeholder group is moving forward to better define selenium sources, educate and inform the public, and identify solutions. Due to similar objectives, activities of the Task Force and the NIWQP are being closely coordinated. Demonstration Project Do salinity control measures such as the piping of irrigation laterals result in significant reductions in selenium loading to streams and rivers? That's the question the NIWQP and . - Uncpmpahgre Valley Water Users Asso~iat!9n (UVWUAl want to answer by cost sharing a demonstration project with the Colorado River .- Salinity Control Program. Imorovements will be made to .Uncompahgre Project irrigation facilities in an area located immediately southeast of Montrose. The project plan calls for the UVWUA to replace five existing unlined irrigation laterals (ditches) with 7.5 miles of buried PVC pipe. Extensive monitoring of project performance will be conducted by the NIWQP to judge its effectiveness. In addition to selenium reductions, the project will prevent an estimated 2,300 tons of salt from entering the Colorado River each year. Construction is scheduled for completion in April 1999. . Remediation at Stewart Lake One example of selenium remediation occurring in our region is at Stewart lake, located adjacent to the Green River near Vernal, Utah. The lake area is an attractive marsh for migratory birds, and endangered Colorado sQuawfish and razorback suckers have also been captured there. However, the water, food, biota, and sediment in the lake have selenium concentrations that are toxic to fish and wildlife. The lake is adjacent to one of only two known river reaches where successful reproduction of razorback suckers occurs in the upper Colorado River basin. Remediation actions, funded by the NlWQP, are proceeding in steps and include monitoring to evaluate effectiveness before proceeding with further work. Phase one was completed in June 1998 and included 1) excavating a new inlet channel to flush the lake with clean water; 21 excavating channels to drain and dry the lake thus enhancing selenium oxidation and removal from sediments; 3) extending agricultural drains to discharge directly into the Green River, eliminating the main source of selenium to the lake; and 4) monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of activities. 1 .., Hvdraulic Excavator creating a drainage channel at Stewan Lake - Phase two activities will continue over 2 to 3 years and involve more flushing, evaluating other methods to reduce selenium in the sediments, providing a permanent good Quality water supply, encouraging water conservation, and monitoring. Significant progress has been made toward N1WQP remediation goals at Stewart lake. Input and questions are welcome Please contact Mike Baker at the Bureau of Reclamation, 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106, Grand Junction CO 81506 by Phone: (9701 248.0637. Fax 19701 248,0601. or E-mail: mbaker@uc.usbr.gov. .