From the Proceedings of the 1979 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 13,1979, Tempe, Arizona / The Dry Lake Region is located in Navajo County, Arizona, near the southern margin of the Colorado Plateau. The region's internal drainage basin of 160 mi2 is further augmented by 50 mi² of the Phoenix Park Wash drainage. The dominate surface water inflow to the playa is the 12 to 13 MGD of paper pulp mill effluent from Southwest Forest Industries near Snowflake, Arizona. As a result, the playa surface water is now covering several thousand acres. Dry Lake water quality is relatively poor by Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) drinking water standards. Ground water in the region is produced from the Coconino Aquifer which is comprised of the Coconino Sandstone and the Kaibab Limestone. The depth to ground water is 400 feet with a saturated zone 100-175 feet thick. Wells in the region yield from 0 to 500 gpm. The presence of the Holbrook Anticline and the Dry Lake Syncline influence both ground water flow direction and artesian conditions. There is concern that the playa may not be suited as an evaporative disposal basin because of the potential influence that karst topography and linear surface features may have on the water balance of the region.

From the Proceedings of the 1980 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada / The Tucson Water Department has developed a long-range water master plan utilizing a computerized hydraulic modeling system from which to determine size and phasing of major water capital improvements. Alternative water sources and amounts were modeled under a fifty-year peak demand condition. Nodal pressure, pipeline headloss, and reservoir drawdown results were evaluated against pre -set standards to determine the optimal solution to the supply- demand balance. A mid-range demand condition for 1990 was modeled subsequent to the modeling of the 2030 planning horizon to incorporate a major domestic water source change. Sizing of new facilities will he based upon the long-range solution. Phasing of capital improvements will he based upon existing system deficiencies, rate and spatial distribution of growth, delivery date of new imported surface supply, and the availability of funds for water project construction.

From the Proceedings of the 1980 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada / Relating water concerns and interactions to land managers has been a challenge met with only partial success. A methodology was developed that incorporates graphical techniques to visually display potentials, tradeoffs, and effects of resource management activities. This technique was applied to chaparral and ponderosa pine ecosystems to show applications to the scientist and also the nontechnical manager. Up to five variables can be displayed in a way that enable quick understandable tradeoff evaluations.

From the Proceedings of the 1980 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Proceedings of the 1980 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada / The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in recognition of the need to identify the mechanisms and significance of salinity loading from arid ephemeral drainages in the Lower Colorado River Basin, sponsored this reconnaissance effort. The principal project objectives were to sample the water quality of flash flood events over a two year period in selected drainage basins and relate field data to the probable type and magnitude of salinity loading that ungaged arid basins could contribute to the Colorado River. Remote water samplers were placed in four tributary basins along the north shore of Lake Mead. Calculated average TDS values for flows ranged from 1,270 to 2,000 mg/l. Water was generally a calcium sulfate type. TDS generally increased down -channel during an event. Estimates of peak discharges and volumes showed that the largest events occurred in the two largest drainage basins. Results of analyses based on a series of conservative assumptions showed that 2,700 and 1,200 metric tons of salt entered Lake Mead from the study area in 1978 and 1979, respectively. This influx of salt would have increased the total dissolved solids (TDS) of the Colorado River at Hoover Dam by .08 mg/l in 1978 and .04 mg/l in 1979. Extrapolation of generalized study results to include similar drainage basins associated with both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave showed that a total annual increase in TDS of .50 mg/l could be attributed to ephemeral basin runoff.

From the Proceedings of the 1980 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Proceedings of the 1979 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 13,1979, Tempe, Arizona / The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 was written with the intent of fostering a spirit of harmony in the day to day operations of Federal agencies with the environmental concerns voiced by the general populace. To examine how Federal agencies have assimilated E.I.S. procedures and guidelines a typical report was reviewed. In general, compliance with environmental law and procedural guidelines was found to be adequate. In some ways, particularly in assessment of Cultural Resource Impact, the statement was exceptional in its evaluation. However, the sections of the report detailing the benefits and costs of the alternatives was not up to the standards expected in an E.I.S. Because the benefits and costs were not calculated in consistent units and the no action alternative was not adequately examined, the entire alternatives section is called to question. By re-evaluating the data provided in the E.I.S. in consistent units, it was found that the alternative selected had neither the highest benefit/ cost ratio nor the lowest environmental impact. It is concluded that alternatives should be as fully evaluated as the project itself in order to integrate environmental considerations into the overall planning process.

From the Proceedings of the 1979 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 13,1979, Tempe, Arizona

From the Proceedings of the 1979 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 13,1979, Tempe, Arizona / The Central Arizona Project (CAP), presently under construction, will convey Arizona's remaining entitlement of Colorado River water to three central Arizona counties. As a result of the recently completed CAP Real-Time Operations Study, a concept of operation has been developed. The concept of operations defines three types of operation beginning with an initial manned operation in 1985, a transition operation, and a permanent operation using a computer assisted remote control system. Under the permanent operation, computer models will be run in advance to define weekly and daily pumping plant and check gate schedules.

Complete issue of the Proceedings of the 1979 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 13,1979, Tempe, Arizona