WSP07079

• File Number: 8272.100.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/1/1992
• Author: CRBSCF
• Title: 1991 Annual Progress Report - Water Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System - August 1992
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

STATUS OF SALINITY CONTROL ACTIVITIES

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~ Bureau of Reclamationl
en DeDartment of Aariculture
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Salinity control projects in which both the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) and u.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
are involved and are in the implementation phase are described
under this heading.

Progress during the reporting period on the salinity projects
authorized by Title II of P.L. 93-320 and P.L. 93-569, and other
measures that reduce salinity in the lower mainstem of the Colorado
River, are presented in the paragraphs that follow. A complete
description of the projects can be found in the "1990 Review - Water
Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System." Location of existing
and proposed salinity control units are shown in Figure 2.

Grand Vallev unit (Reclamation-Department of Aariculturel -
The Definite Plan Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the
Grand Valley unit were supplemented to include the Price and Stubb
Ditches. The purpose of this supplement is to allow concurrent
canal and lateral improvement to proceed on the Price and stubb
systems. Cost effectiveness for the canal improvements were
estimated at $45 per ton for 11,500 tons per year of salt
reduction. Construction of these facilities started in 1991 under
cooperative construction agreements with the Palisade Irrigation
District and the Mesa County Irrigation District. Construction
will take approximately 3 years to complete. No significant
impacts were identified in the supplements. Replacement of habitat
values will proceed as part of the Grand Valley Unit.

Reclamation prepared an environmental assessment to evaluate
the impacts of alternative methods of canal lining of the East end
of the Government Highline Canal. The landowners along this reach
were concerned with the need for additional right-of-way to
construct the improvements. Reclamation developed a plan which
minimizes the need for right-of-way acquisition without increasing
the project costs significantly. Construction of Reach 1b will
begin in 1992 with land acquisition for right-of-way.

Under the USDA onfarm and off-farm lateral improvement program
for salinity control, work continued at an accelerated pace in
assisting farmers to plan and apply salinity control practices. To
date, 205 salinity control contracts have been signed with farmers.
Participants are implementing a variety of salinity control
practices including: ditch lining, underground pipelines, gated
pipe, land leveling, and surge irrigation systems. In 1990,
Reclamation and USDA entered into a 2-year surge irrigation
research and demonstration program. Due to its outstanding
success, Reclamation and the USDA will continue this program as
part of Reclamation's ongoing construction program. This was the
second year for implementation of the Grand Valley surge irrigation
demonstration program which was funded by Reclamation under an

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