OCR Text |
Show areas. To accomplish salvage on the fringe areas around the lake an elaborate dike and drainage system would be required which would include pumping of the drainage flows. The fringe areas around the lake are used to some extent for pasture. In computing the depletions and potential net salvage, it was assumed that all surface and groundwater, irrigation return flows, and precipitation on the phreatophyte areas would be available as a source of supply, and all sources except precipitation could be controlled. However, these assumptions are questionable. The results of an attempt to save water through phreatophyte eradication in the Pecos River Basin Clearing Project are presently inconclusive. Preparation of a report is underway. Inflow- outflow studies to measure water savings have been unsuccessful because of changes in groundwater storage, upward leakage from underlying aquifers, and the relative magnitude of savings compared to total flows. However, lysimeter tank studies have shown that salt cedars use up to k or 5 feet of water per year, and bare soil with a depth to water of a foot uses up to 2 feet. However, if the water level is kept below k feet, consumptive use is very slight. The fringe areas around the eastern half of the Great Salt Lake have many acres of land covered with phreato- phytes, but most of these areas are either managed or unmanaged waterfowl areas or wetland pastures. The Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources manages five waterfowl areas around the lake. They are Howard Slough Waterfowl Management Area, Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Public Shooting Ground Waterfowl Management Area, and Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area. The Federal Government manages the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on the north end of the lake. Numerous private developments are also managed as waterfowl hunting areas. Salvage of water from these areas by control of phreatophyte growth would likely be opposed by the waterfowl interests. Furthermore, development of this water for other uses would further deplete the inflows to the Great Salt Lake, which would lower the level of the lake. Water salvage by phreatophyte control around the Great Salt Lake would not be practical because of the existing uses for pastureland and developed waterfowl management areas. The outflow from these areas could be collected 526 |