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<br />dlOXi~turry ,and saline water on an alternating basis.
<br />MovlnQ saline water in a pipeline on a shared basis with
<br />liquid qartx:ln dioxide and coal may offer the promise of
<br />meetlng project objectives in a more cost-effective manner
<br />It\anw{ththe~!e.
<br />The Mualreln project may provlde a cost-effective
<br />sallnlty:oonlrol method for the Colorado RIver while
<br />provld!(lg an economically-competitive method of
<br />transP4rting coal and other commodities from northwest
<br />Colo~o, Utah, and Wyoming to domestic and potential
<br />8Xport-inaf1<.~ whIle at the same time providing lor the
<br />benefic!aJ use :01 saline watero. Both Aquatmin, Inc. and
<br />Rec!li/1'lBtIon have been actively seeking othel1l to join with
<br />lhemtQundertakethedesign,oonstnJction,andflnanclng
<br />ollhe~rojecl.
<br />
<br />aunoju of Land M_t
<br />
<br />BLM;ls conllnuing to study processes 01 salt pickup and
<br />transpQrt In surface runoff from rangelands and ground
<br />water tin.the public domain.
<br />The toncllJ$ionS In the 19n and 1918-79 BLM SalinitY
<br />status ~epor18 regarding eff~ 01 man's activities on
<br />S8l1nlty:s~arelatlonshipbetweenlncreasedsalinlty
<br />and Indreased fJJoofflV1d $011 loss. However, the
<br />assocIl\tedeff8ctsafoll-gasacflvitles,mlnlng,olf-road-
<br />vehlclelU$llQe,'and grazing need to be6StabHshed to
<br />quantil}tscilinttyrelationshlps.
<br />Add~ona! studies are neaded to identify the location of
<br />point sj:lurces of salinity resulting from groundwater
<br />dI.-pe,
<br />The tollowing activities are recommended for the
<br />Identl~tIonandeventuallmp!emantatlonofsalinlty
<br />control; measures to mduce salt yields from public lands:
<br />1. lqentffiC6!tion of watersheds which are located on
<br />s411neso/ls'Nhlchareexperiencingacceleratedrates
<br />oferoskJn.
<br />
<br />2. ~Iopmentoffeasibilityreportsforlhajdentitied
<br />Wetersheds, with the purpose of evantuat
<br />lrilplementatlon of control measures
<br />
<br />3. lmplemeotation of salinity control measures where
<br />fEleslble.
<br />
<br />USDA ROLE
<br />NUm!roos agencies within USDA are involved In
<br />Colorai;fo River salinity control aclMtles, USDA has
<br />extensIVe experience and technical expertise In onfarm
<br />irrigatlop watet maoagemanl. Major USDA functional
<br />actwltlll$lnclude:
<br />1. sallnltyoontrol basin studies
<br />2. PrOjectl~plemenlatlononfarm
<br />a,1Technlcalass~tance
<br />b,;Flnanc::ialasslstance
<br />c.; EduCl!tlona!, Informational assistance
<br />3. Ras.oorchanddemoflStratlon
<br />4. MOnltoringandevaluatlon
<br />Poor jrngatlcin dlslfibutfon Ejnd water management
<br />sys~ on Irrij;lated agricultural lands have resulted in
<br />excessfJe distribution syst&n1 seepage, over-lrri9allon, low
<br />irrtgatl~ efficiencies, excessive deep percolation and high
<br />surllioo fuooff. :COllectively, these problems have resulted
<br />Inl~sa!ln\_typroblemsbytheJeaching,ofsaltsmto
<br />the ~ system. Approximately one million acres are
<br />Irrfgateqin 17 identified Irrigation salt source areas In tha
<br />CoI~ Rivet bosin. SCS 83IImates onfarm water
<br />~tandsallnltycontrol measures would be
<br />cost.ive on over600,OXl-acres in 11 different salt
<br />source Areas, .
<br />
<br />Basln'StudIes
<br />
<br />The SOil Conservation SelVloe has the responsibility for
<br />cood~ng salinity control studies 'under authority of
<br />RIverB4s1nSu!\'8Yfunds. Thestudles evaluate the
<br />magn~ of Slll1loadlngs, the treatment and
<br />managefnem alternattves for salinity control, and
<br />es1im~ proJectlmpJementation costs, Working In
<br />oooper~on wtth Reclamation, other Federal agencies,
<br />and COIi::emed state agencies, USDA has completed
<br />seven rJiaJor sll,tdies to dat&-6rand Valley, Colorado;
<br />Uinta e+srn, utah; Big Sandy, Wyoming: Moapa Valley,
<br />Nava.da.;'Vlrgln Valley. Nevada and Arizona; and Lower
<br />Gunnlsdn and McElmoCreek, Colorado. Throoadditlonal
<br />studies ynderway are Pric&-Sa.n Rafael, Utah; Mancos
<br />Valley, <fo/Oracf:o; and UpPer Virgin, Utah.
<br />
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<br />4. Collection of water quality data for the purpose of
<br />monitoring Ihe success of land use plans, activity
<br />plans, and watershed Implementation s1Nctures.
<br />
<br />Geological Survey
<br />
<br />In cooperation with State, local, and other Federal
<br />agencies, the USGS-WRD (Water Resources DMslon}
<br />operates about 780 streamflow gaging stations in the
<br />Colorado River Basin and collects water..quality data at
<br />about 280 of them. Information from the stations
<br />constitutes a major water data base. used In much oflhe
<br />Colorado River Basin project planning, management,and
<br />operation.
<br />In addition, the USG$-INRD conducts analytical and
<br />interpretative water resource appraisals describlng the
<br />occurrence, availability,' and physical, chemical, and
<br />blokiglcal characteristics of surface and ground water.
<br />StUdies range from evaluating the imp@ctandpredictive
<br />changes In1otaldlssofved solidsexpecled,from Increased
<br />coal and oil-shale mining to regional aquifer systems ,
<br />analysis In many sectors of the Colorado River Basin:
<br />
<br />fish and Wildlife ServIce
<br />
<br />FWS acUVl1ies are Important 10 the 'Implementatlon and
<br />progress of the Colorado River Water Quality
<br />Improvement Program. The Colorado River Basin
<br />inoludesflve FWS offices.
<br />Fish andWildJlfe Coordination Act reports, planning aid
<br />letters, and comments on draft environmental Impact
<br />statements are but a few of the many actMtles that FWS
<br />are InvOlved with an the CRWQtP. FWS provides
<br />memberstilp to HEP (Habitat Evaluation Procedure)
<br />Teams which conduct field work and analyze the Impacts
<br />of program impl9rnantalion and construction on the area's
<br />habitat. Lists of endangered species In a proJect area and
<br />biological opinions are provided by FWS,
<br />FWS provides suggestions for replacing habilat
<br />potentiallylostthroughcanalandlateralllningandonfann
<br />programs. Fish and wildlife measures planned to ollaet
<br />these Impacts include acquisition and development of
<br />wildlife habitat. COnstruction of watering ponds. and
<br />
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<br />UTAH
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<br />installatlonoffenc:e$orescapestru<;turesto:reduceblg
<br />q,afne losses. Onfarm )mprovementt.~ch _as ,$Ell9Ct types
<br />01 plantinga, strip.-Mrwsting of ~ crops; wIndbreak
<br />development" "" sma, 'II ponds are, i{lSo'" p''''._' 'oed." '
<br />Through the close cooperation a:t\d ooordlhatiOti of
<br />Reclamation, the Soil ConseMUion ,service; toe F1l\t1' and
<br />WildlHe Servioe, IM'State&, and Iocj)' efI11119!l.-_ habitat
<br />replacement wilt bEl' evaluated and ~mmerdlllklns
<br />made. Implementation of lnc::identaL~ldlife hilbi1at
<br />replacement \,>,Ui proceed when auttiOrity. SUCh as tI1at
<br />included in the Forum's proposed legislation, ~ received.
<br />
<br />
<br />. NEVADA
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<br />EPA ROLE
<br />
<br />The principal Environmental ProIe9lion A9!3OCY
<br />programs dealing wtth scilinity cont_to) are: (1) Water
<br />Quality Management Planning, (2) W~ter a~lty
<br />Standards, and (3) the National PoII~nt'D~harge
<br />Elimlnirtion System (NPDES) Perm~ Prim4!Y
<br />Im~ntallon QIIhese programa IMargelydelegatedto
<br />the stlrtas: however, EPA reta!ns oversight and approvtll
<br />responsibilities.
<br />Additional EPA aoti\!l1les include f:VOVldlng:program
<br />support and guldahCe for State and F~rum salinity c:ontrol
<br />activities. Examples of these actMtlljl!l; IncI~ alloCating
<br />208lunds 10 help eslablish the Salt(1tty Control Forum's
<br />Executive Director position; pleS9r\t!hg testimony before
<br />Congress In support of the~, basl~de
<br />salinity control Eiffort;andWOrklng ~ indlvidOllI$teSto
<br />assist In implemeoting state salinity .control activities.
<br />EPA re..w.w and CQmmenfs on 1000rior and USDA
<br />environmental inipaCt statements ol'r'ssllnity contrOl
<br />projects because of.11a I'eSponSlbil~ undefthe 'Claan
<br />Water Actend the National EnVlronlT$ltal Polley Act. EPA
<br />encourages al1errllitiVes which minimize and;mlt~te
<br />adverse salinity impaota through varfoua apptoachas,
<br />including water conservation and lndtJstriaJ, uSe of scillne
<br />w"",,
<br />EPAhasworkedcloselywltt1the8~oIReclam81lon
<br />on the deep-w8Il InjeCtion al1ematMffor brine' tllspossl In
<br />the Paradox Valley scilinlty control project.
<br />
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<br />
<br />WYOMNG
<br />
<br />SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
<br />AND BUREAU-OF LAND
<br />MANAGEMENT STUDV AREAS
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