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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . W .t:>. UJ ::..:> Public involvement activities during plannin~ studies included small group meetings, public meetings, newsletters, and news releases. The small group meetings involved information and idea exchanp;es with local officials, State agencies, and other Federal ap:encies. 'Environ- mental scoping meetings were held to obtain concerns and reactions abollt the unit and identify alternatives to aid in preparing the environmental impact statement. Public meetings were held in Glf"nwood SprtnJ';s, Silt, Loma, and Mack to present the status of the studies, to obtAin public input, and to elicit environmental concerns. Four newsletters were mailed to more than 70 lOCAL residents, government officials, and in- dustry leAders. Public involvement is discussed more fully in C';hapter VI, Consultation and Coordination. Previous Studies Between 1963 and 1970, the Federal Water Pollution Control Adminis- tration (FWPCA) included the Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit as part of the water quality study of the entire Colorado River system. The FWPCA and Reclamation conducted joint investigations of the salinity problem and possible control measures in 1968 and 1969. In 1971, the Environ- mental Protection Agency published the results of these studies, entitled Hineral Quality Problems in the Colorado River Basin. e Reclamation conducted an appraisal investiftation of the Glenwood- Dotsero Springs Unit in the early 1970's that included the use of infra- red photography to identify thermal springs, chemical analyses of water samples, and preliminary evaluations of control methods. Salinity con- trol methods that were considered included the collection and disposal of saline water in evaporation ponds with or without de~31tin~ plants, injection of spring waters into deep wells, plugging or grouting the springs, and use of the saltne flows for industrial purpose!'.. The ap- praisal studies were essentially completed in 1975 and the results pub- lished in June 1976, in Glen....ood-Dotsero Sprin~s Unit, CoLorado, Colo- rado River Water Quality Improvement Program, Appraisal Report. Based on the technoloKY available and the limited studie~ made, the most fea- sible method of controlling the saline water appeared to he a multi~ta~e flash distillation desaltinll; pLant located near :>;ew Castle and associated collection systems, evaporation ponds, and pipelines. Related Salinitv Control Units . . The Grand Valley Unit of the CRWQIP is located within the Glenwood- Dotsero Springs Unit area along the Colorado River betwet.>n Palisade and Mack and includes the city of Grand Junction. An e!'ltimated 5RO,OOO tons of salt are contri~lted annually to the river in the area as a result of irrigation return flows and conveyance system seepagf" movinJ'; throuKh saline substrata and picking up salts, The purpose of the unit i~ to reduce the salt loading. 5