WSP07611

• File Number: 8272.300.50
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1990
• Author: CRBSC Advisory Counc
• Title: 1989 Annual Report on the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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Public Law 93-320, ~e "Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Act of 1974," au~orized construction, operation, and maintenance
of certain works in ~e Colorado River Basin to control the
salinity of water in ~. Colorado River available for use in the
United States and Mexico. Section 204 of ~e Act established a
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council. A Charter
for ~e Council was originally approved by the Secretaries of the
Interior and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency on February 6, 1976, revised on June 22, 1976,
and sUbsequently renewed in 1978, 1~80, 1982, 1984, 1986 and August
31, 1988. The Council receives reports from the federal agencies
involved in salinity control activities and makes recommendations
to those agencies on appropriate means of controlling the River's
salinity. '

The Council, is comprised of up to three meiubers,appointed by
the respective Governor, from each of the seven Colorado River
Basin states. The current membership is shown on Attachment A.
During 1989, David Robbins, Colorado, served as Council Chairman.
D. Larry Anderson, utah, served as Vice Chairman. The permanent
Work Group of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forul1l
continues to serve the Council and. the Forum in the capacity of a
technical review and study team. Ernest M. Weber, California, is
Chairman of the Work Group. The Council is also assisted by the
Forum's Executive Director, Jack Barnett.

Most of the members of the Advisory Council are also members
of the Colorado River Basin salinity Control Forum. The Council and
Forum are related in their activities, but have different
functions.

The 1972 Clean Water Act, as interpreted by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), required setting numeric criteria for
salinity for the Colorado River, and establishment of an interstate
organization to develop a salinity control implementation plan.
In response to EPA's requirements, the Basin states in 19~3-formed
an interstate group, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Forum. The Forum developed water quality standards for salinity
for the Colorado River, including numeric criteria, designated
uses, an antidegradation pOlicy, and a basinwide plan of
implementation. These were adopted by the seven Basin states as
part1)f -their state standardsernd were approved by EPA in 1976.
The permanent Work Group, under the authority of the Forum, is
charged with making ~e necessary studies, providing technical
advic;:e, and keeping current with events and Changes which will
enable the Forum to lIllke decisions on llIatters, concerning the