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<br />Pollution Control in the South Platte River Basin of Colorado
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<br />41
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<br />Mr. Frank J. Rozich, Technical Secretary of the State Water
<br />Pollution Control Commission, Denver, Colorado, told the Committee
<br />that because of the great concentration of people and major
<br />industries in the South Platte River Basin, coupled:with the flow
<br />variability ill the river, the stream had become badly polluted.
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<br />Control of that pollution has been lodged in various State
<br />organizations and during the last ten years a great deal has been
<br />done to alleviate the pollution, not only in the South Platte
<br />River Basin, but in other river basins in the State. However,
<br />after the passage of the Federal Hater Quality Act of 1965, it
<br />was found that Colorado water pollution laws were not compatible
<br />with the Federal law. Therefore, the Colorado General Assembly
<br />in 1966 adopted the Colorado Water Quality Act of 1966, which
<br />established a new water pollution control commission as a division
<br />of the State Department of Public Health. Thus, State law and
<br />control now has. been brought into line with Federal standards.
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<br />One of the first functions of the Commission and its staff
<br />was the preparation of water quality standards and a plan for its
<br />implementation. Completion of the standards has met the Federal
<br />deadlines.
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<br />Although Federal law required that standards be established
<br />only on interstate waters, the Commission has set standards on many
<br />of Colorado's intrastate waters and plans in the coming year to set
<br />standards on additional waters in the State. The Colorado standards
<br />call for secondary treatment or its equivalent for all waste dis-
<br />charged to waters of the State.
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<br />Mr. Rozich said that he and others in Colorado were optimistic
<br />that Colorado would enhance the quality of surface waters and support
<br />the water control agency and its function, providing sufficient Federal
<br />assistance to help communities construct sewage treatment facilities is
<br />forthcoming.
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<br />Water and Watershed Management on Forest Lands
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<br />John R. Cooley, Regional Forest Hydrologist, USDA Forest Service,
<br />Denver, Colorado, told the group that existing and planned watershed
<br />programs of the Forest Service are of two broad types: (1) The coop-
<br />erative efforts with other governmental agencies; and (2) the watershed
<br />management on national forest lands. In the latter, the activities can
<br />be described as protection, rehabilitation, and water yield improvement.
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