WSP06997

• File Number: 8276.100.10
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1978
• Title: Best Management Practices for Salinity Control in Grand Valley
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ABSTRACT

A nontechnical summary of several research activities in
the Grand Valley is given. Analyses: of alternative measures
of reducing the salt load originating from the Valley as a
result of irrigation return flows are present'3d. These alter-
natives include conveyance channel linings, field relief
drainage, on-farm improvements (such as irrigation scheduling,
head ditch linings, sprinkler and trickle irrigation), economic
control measures such as taxation and land retirement, modified
legal constraints, and collection and treatment of return flows
with desalting systems.

The best management practices for salinit~ control in the
Grand Valley should be primarily the structurell rehabilitation
and operational modification of the local irrigation system
lying below the turnouts from the major canal systems. Canal
linings appear in the optimal strategies at higher levels of
valley-wide salinity control emphasis but only so far as lining
the Government Highline Canal is concerned. Desalting would
become a cost-effective alternative after major irrigation
system improvements are implemented.

Field drainage, taxation, and land retirement are not
considered reliable control alternatives because of cost and
marginal effectiveness. The legal measures are unlikely candi-
dates in a salinity control program directly, but will play an
important role in implementing the practices which reduce salt
loading directly.

This report was submitted in fulfillment of Grant No.
S-802985 to Colorado State University, under sponsorship of the
Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers the period
February 18, 1974 to June 17, 1977, and was completed as of
January 31, 1978.

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