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<br />~ <br />C) <br />~ <br />en <br /> <br />The watershed practices that may be effective in salinity <br />control include gully plugs, contour furrowings, pitting, <br />ripping, retention and detention structures, and the imple- <br />mentation of allotment and habitat management plans. The <br />cost of these watershed treatments within Grand Valley, <br />Colorado, as estimated by the Soil Conservation Service, is <br />approximately $30-40 per ton of salt removed. BLM feels <br />that these salinity control projects, with secondary bene- <br />fits to erosion and flood control, water supply for <br />livestock and wildlife, and/or improved forage production, <br />are consistent with the multiple-use philosophy of BLM. <br />Reports identifying potential salinity control areas have <br />been completed for eastern Utah and the Montrose, Craig, and <br />Grand Junction Districts in Colorado. <br /> <br />Several activity plans have been completed in the States of <br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Portions of these plans have <br />been implemented, with one, Elephant Skin Wash in Colorado, <br />being fully implemented in 1985. This verification project <br />is designed to prevent approximately 600 tons of salt from <br />reaching the Colorado River annually at a cost of $29 per <br />ton. <br /> <br />In addition to nonpoint-source salinity control, BLM has <br />also implemented point-source control measures. point- <br />source control measures include the plugging of abandoned <br />oil and gas wells. The condition of two plugged saline <br />flowing wells in the Piceance Creek Basin were monitored in <br />1985. These wells originally had a flow rate of 90 gpm with <br />dissolved solid concentration of 30,000 mg/L. This is equal <br />to approximately 5,000 tons of salt a year. The plugs are <br />still in place with no seepage to the creek. <br /> <br />Geoloqical Survey <br /> <br />Determination of the overall goals and accomplishments of <br />the salinity control program relies heavily on streamflow <br />and dissolved-solids data from key sampling stations in the <br />Colorado River Basin. Since 1984, the U.S. Geological <br />Survey has been analyzing the available data in order to <br />develop a consistent, accurate data base for salinity stud- <br />ies in the basin. This analysis has included consolidating <br />historical records and studies, extending the historical <br />record for certain stations, and generating a natural record <br />of dissolved-solids discharge which would have occurred if <br />no water-resource development existed in the basin. The <br />natural record was required specifically for prediction of <br />future salinity using the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's <br />river-basin operations model, CRSS. <br /> <br />16 <br />