COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Meeting Minutes

Virtual Meeting

July 7, 2022

Advisory Council Beginning Time: Thursday, July 7, 2022, 10:00 am (MDT)

Designated Federal Officer Aung Hla

Presiding: Chairman Bill Hasencamp

I. Welcome, Introductions Hasencamp

The Advisory Council (Council) Meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Hasencamp at 10:05

a.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom. After welcoming people 

to the meeting, Chairman Hasencamp began by have introductions of Council Members followed 

by others participating in the meeting. A list of the attendees at the meeting is attached to these 

minutes as Appendix A.

II. Opening Comments Aung

Aung Hla expressed hope that the next meeting of the Council will be in person in October. He then 

introduced himself as the Federal Designated Officer of the Council meeting. Aung expressed his 

desire to be the “play-maker” for the group.

Aung then recognized the alternates who were filling in for Council Members as follows: Kristen 

Johnson for Clint Chandler (AZ), Ali Effati for Mike Hamman (NM), Warren Turkett for Sara Price

(NV), and John Mackey for Erica Gaddis (UT).

III. Review and Approval of Agenda Hasencamp

Chairman Hasencamp asked for any comments on the proposed agenda. There were no changes to 

the agenda, and it was approved (see Appendix B for a copy of the agenda).

IV. Draft Minutes of 2021 Fall Advisory Council Meeting – Virtual Hasencamp

In presenting the minutes, Aung gave particular appreciation to Marcie Bainson for her assistance 

with the prior Council meeting. Chairman Hasencamp then asked if there were any comments 

or proposed changes to the draft minutes to the October 27-28, 2021, Advisory Council 

Meeting. There were no comments or changes and, upon motion, the minutes as drafted were 

approved.

V. Charter Renewal Status Aung

Aung indicated that they began very early with the process of approving the next charter. He 

indicated that it has already passed through Interior and that it is now moving through the Department 

of Agriculture and then will pass to EPA.
VI. Items from the Forum Rebecca Mitchell

Becky Mitchell was not in attendance and so Chairman Hasencamp asked Rich Juricich and Don 

Barnett to provide background on the draft letter. Barnett provided some background on the letter 

in general and the recently proposed edits from the Forum which included the expression of 

concerns for high expenditure of O&M dollars at the Paradox Valley Unit when the injection well is 

not operating. After discussion, a motion passed to accept the letter as circulated.

VII. Expenditures of Basin Funds Rich Juricich/Tom Marston

TAG Chair Rich Juricich then ran through recommendations regarding the expenditures of cost 

share dollars for studies, investigations and research pursuant to a memo which the TAG had 

previously circulated to the Council (see Attachment C). Two of the five proposed studies were

recommended for funding by the TAG, and three were not recommended at that time. The two 

recommended studies were one on the Green River and one in the Spanish Valley. Juricich 

reviewed the basic elements of the two recommended studies. The study in the Green River area 

involves quantifying salt gains due to return flows from irrigated lands. There were three levels of 

study in the write-up and the TAG was recommending the higher level of study. In the Spanish 

Valley, Juricich recounted the history of prior studies. Though there is a significant brine source 

underlying the valley, in the past there has not been an indication of salt discharge to the Colorado 

River. With recent drier conditions, there is a concern that the situation has changed. If local 

entities are willing to participate in the study, the TAG recommended the higher level of study. 

There was a question relative to the local entities participating. Tom Marston indicated that the 

local entities are still reviewing and developing their willingness to participate. He indicated that 

the hope is that the funding be approved for the synoptic portion of the study with the full study 

being approved if the local entities decide to participate.

Juricich also reviewed the three proposed studies which were reviewed by the TAG but not 

recommended for funding at that time. The first study was to use the SPARROW model to predict 

future salt loads under varying climate change scenarios. The TAG noted that the proposed study 

was fairly costly and did not have a direct link to the CRSS model which is used for future salinity 

forecasting. There was a comment that future salinity modeling would be important to the 

program objectives. The second one is for an interactive mapping tool of salinity conditions in the 

Basin. The TAG has reviewed some options from the USGS but wants to further explore the 

options. The third study is more of a place holder to do a hydrosalinity study in the Upper Green 

River. Wyoming has requested that a study be considered, but it has not yet been fully developed.

There was a motion to approve the recommendations as reviewed by the TAG. The motion passed.

VIII. Public Comment Hasencamp

No public comment was provided.

IX. Direction to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Hasencamp/Juricich

Juricich indicated that he had noted the feedback from the Council in the above discussions. 

Hasencamp also noted appreciation for the short-term salinity projections which were given at the 
Forum meetings and asked that they continue. There was also a suggestion that the TAG consider 

if there were any additional studies needed at the Paradox Valley Unit.

X. Other Business/Actions Hasencamp

No other items of business were raised.

XI. Next Meeting Hasencamp

The next Forum and Advisory Council meetings were set for Monday, October 24 – Wednesday,

October 26, 2022 in the Lake Tahoe area. The meeting may include a tour.

Adjourn Meeting: Approximately 10:55 am (MDT)
APPENDICES

Minutes of Meeting

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council

July 7, 2022

Held Virtually
Appendix A

Attendance Roster

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council Meeting

July 7, 2022

Held Virtually
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL Appendix A

July 7, 2022 Page 1 of 3 

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

Virtual Meeting

July 7, 2022

NAME REPRESENTING

Bainson, Marcie U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Salt Lake City, UT

Barnett, Don Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum

Farmington, UT

Jacob Barnett Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum

Farmington, UT

*Burns, Andrew Southern Nevada Water Authority

Las Vegas, NV

Collins, Casey Southern Nevada Water Authority

Las Vegas, NV

Cowley, Jeff Interstate Streams, State Engineer’s Office

Cheyenne, WY

Cutillo, Paula U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Lakewood, CO

Cunningham, Colleen NM Interstate Stream Commission

Santa Fe, NM

Dunn, Ted U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

*Esquivel, Joaquin California Water Resources Control Board

Sacramento, CA

*Ezekial Effati, Ali New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, 

Santa Fe, NM

Evans, Clint U.S. Department of Agriculture/NRCS

Washington, DC

Evanstad, Norm U.S. Department of Agriculture/NRCS

Salt Lake City, UT

Fegler, Mel Wyoming State Engineer’s Office

Cheyenne, WY
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL Appendix A

July 7, 2022 Page 2 of 3 

*Ferrantelli, Charlie Wyoming State Engineer’s Office

Cheyenne, WY

Fillerup, Anders U.S. Department of Agriculture/NRCS

Roosevelt, UT

Hamel, Madeleine WY DEQ, Water Quality Division

Cheyenne, WY

Hla, Aung U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Salt Lake City, UT

*Hasencamp, Bill Metropolitan Water District of So. California

Los Angeles, CA

*Hasenyager, Candace Utah Division of Water Resources

Salt Lake City, UT

Ikeya, Deanna Central Arizona Project

Phoenix, AZ

*Johnson, Kristen Arizona Department of Water Resources

Phoenix, AZ

*Jordan, Erin Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality

Phoenix, AZ

Juricich, Rich Colorado River Board of California

Glendale, CA

Kanzer, Dave Colorado River District

Glenwood Springs, CO

*Karta, Vineetha Central Arizona Project

Phoenix, AZ

Kehmeier, Paul Colorado Department of Agriculture

Delta, CO

Lai, Larry Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA

Los Angles, CA

Lair, Cindy Colorado Department of Agriculture

Denver, CO

*Mackay, John Utah Division of Water Quality

Salt Lake City, UT

Marston, Tom U.S. Geological Survey

Salt Lake City, UT

Martinez, Astrid NRCS Wyoming

Cheyenne, WY

*McGettigan, Scott Utah Division of Water Resources
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL Appendix A

July 7, 2022 Page 3 of 3 

Salt Lake City, UT

Monahan, Peter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Denver, CO

Morgan, Betsy Utah Division of Water Resources

Salt Lake City, UT

Murray, McKenna Utah Division of Water Resources

Salt Lake City, UT

Parham, Lucy Utah Division of Water Quality

Salt Lake City, UT

Cole Pihl Arizona Department of Water Resources

Phoenix, AZ

Quilter, Mark Utah Department of Agriculture & Food

Salt Lake City, UT

Rapoport, Shana Colorado River Board of California 

Glendale, CA

Rickert, Andrew Colorado Water Conservation Board

Denver, CO

Roberts, Melynda U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Salt Lake City, UT

Rickert, Andrew Colorado Water Conservation Board

Denver, CO

*Rowan, Nicole Colorado Water Quality Control Division

Denver, CO

Skeie, Erik Colorado Water Conservation Board

Denver, CO

Scott, Carrie U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Yuma, AZ

Sobien, Helen Interstate Stream Commission

Sant Fe, NM

*Turkett, Warren Colorado River Commission of Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

Wade, Stacy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Boulder City, NV

*Waterstreet, David Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality

Cheyenne, WY

*Indicates an Advisory Council member or individual representing an Advisory Council member
Appendix B 

Agenda

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council Meeting

July 7, 2022

Held Virtually
PROPOSED AGENDA

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Virtual Meeting

July 7, 2022 

Advisory Council Beginning Time: Thursday, July 7, 2022, 10:00 am (MDT)

Designated Federal Officer Aung Hla

Presiding: Chairman Bill Hasencamp

I. Welcome, Introductions Hasencamp

II. Opening Comments Aung

A. Acceptance letters from members designating alternates Aung

III. Review and Approval of Agenda Hasencamp

IV. Draft Minutes of 2021 Fall Advisory Council Meeting – Virtual

A. Review Aung

B. Action Hasencamp

V. Charter Renewal Status Aung

VI. Items from the Forum Rebecca Mitchell

A. Draft Letter on LCRBDF Management

B. Other

VII. Expenditures of Basin Funds

A. Recommendations from TAG Rich Juricich/Tom Marston

B. Action by Advisory Council Hasencamp

VIII. Public Comment Hasencamp

IX. Direction to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Hasencamp/Juricich

X. Other Business/Actions Hasencamp

XI. Public Comment Hasencamp

XII. Next Meeting Hasencamp

Adjourn Meeting: Approximately 12:00 pm (MDT)
Appendix C 

TAG Memo Containing SIR Funding Recommendations

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council Meeting

July 7, 2022

Held Virtually
Technical

 Advisory Page 1 

 Group

State 

Representatives

ARIZONA

Kristen Johnson

CALIFORNIA

Rich Juricich

Chair

COLORADO

Eric Skeie

NEVADA

Warren Turkett

NEW MEXICO

Helen Sobien

UTAH

Scott McGettigan

WYOMING

Charlie Ferrantelli

ADVISORY COUNCIL’S

REPRESENTATIVE

Bill Hasencamp

DESIGNATED FEDERAL 

OFFICER

Aung Hla

Memorandum TAG 2022-01

To: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council

From: Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

Date: June 29, 2022 

Re: TAG Recommendation to the Advisory Council Regarding Expenditure of CostShare Dollars for Studies, Investigations and Research

At its October 2009 meeting, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council 

(Council) created a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and charged it with the duty of 

reviewing potential funding needs and opportunities under the Basin States Program 

(BSP) and reporting back recommendations to the Council. The TAG provides 

recommendations relative to expenditure of cost-share dollars associated with the 

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Program). This memorandum provides 

recommendations regarding expenditure of cost-share dollars for studies, 

investigations and research associated with the Program.

The 1996 amendments to the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) authorized 

up-front cost sharing, in lieu of repayment, in the Program. Since that time, the 

required cost share in EQIP obligations has been used to fund salinity control projects, 

including habitat replacement, as well as a small portion that has been used to fund 

research and planning studies which facilitate the implementation of the Program. The 

2008 amendments to the Act specified that all future Program cost-share moneys be 

expended through the newly created Basin States Program (BSP). The Act further 

specifies that Reclamation is the fiduciary of the moneys expended under the BSP and 

that such expenditures are to be made in consultation with the Council.

The TAG has reviewed the following potential new studies for potential funding with 

BSP dollars: 

SIR 2022-01

Name: Reassessment of hydrologic conditions and salinity loading associated with 

agricultural areas around Green River, Utah

Objective: The objectives of this study are to 1) assess current water quality associated 

with return flows from irrigated agricultural fields previously unmeasured on the east 

bank of the Green River; 2) to reassess water quality at a subset of sites measured and

analyzed during the 2004-05 to evaluate changes in conditions since the last study; and 

3) to re-evaluate the surface water and shallow groundwater hydrology related to 
Technical

 Advisory Page 2 

 Group

agricultural water deliveries from canals on both the west and east bank areas of the 

Green River near Green River, Utah.

Amount: 

• Limited Scope sampling, seepage, and simple hydrology + internal report = S49,000

• Full Scope sampling, 3 canal seepage, with complex hydrology + internal report = 

$79,700

• Full Scope sampling, 3 canal seepage, with complex hydrology + USGS report = $94,700

Recommendation: The TAG recommends the third, or Full Scope option with the USGS 

report.

SIR 2022-02

Name: Refined assessment of salinity loading to the Colorado River in Spanish Valley, 

Utah

Objective: The objectives of this study are to 1) quantify salt loading from Spanish 

Valley, Utah to the Colorado River at below average flows; 2) provide additional 

monitoring locations within the Matheson Wetlands Preserve to better characterize 

the relationship of the brine to the river; and 3) to evaluate the effects of freshwater 

depletion on the underlying brine in the valley-fill aquifer in Spanish Valley.

Amount: 

Task Cost CRSCP USGS UT 

Coop

USGS Synoptic 

Investigation

$25,000 $10,000 $15,000

BOR Monitoring Well 

Drilling (per well) x5

~$13,500 $67,500

USGS Small diameter 

pump test

$50,000 $20,000 $30,000

• Total Cost with 5 additional monitoring wells drilled: $120,000

Recommendation: TAG recommended funding $25,000 for the Synoptic Investigation. 

An additional $42,500 is recommended if the USGS can secure additional cost share 

funds from partners in the Spanish Valley. Maximum recommended funding is 

$67,500.
Technical

 Advisory Page 3 

 Group

Other Studies Considered and not currently recommended for funding 

SIR 2022-03

Name: Predicting future salinity loading to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Objective: The principal goal of this project is to use the salinity and baseflow 

SPARROW models to predict future salinity loading to streams under different climate 

scenarios at 10,000+ stream reaches in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). Input 

data to the SPARROW model will include projections of future precipitation, 

temperature, and baseflow discharge.

Amount: 

• Option 1: Modify the SPARROW UCRB salinity model to include baseflow as a source and 

calibrate for historical conditions, then apply future climate projections = $150,017

• Option 2: Calibrate a new baseflow salinity model to estimate salinity loading from 

baseflow across the UCBR for historical conditions, then apply future climate projections 

= $193,421

• Option 3: Calibrate new baseflow salinity model. Modify existing total salinity model to 

include baseflow salinity. Use baseflow salinity predictions under future climate as input 

to total salinity model under future climate = $228,007

•

Recommendation: Though the TAG recognizes the value in developing modeling 

capabilities which can better predict changes in salinity levels with varying climate 

scenarios, it did not feel comfortable with recommending this proposal at this time. 

The TAG would like to further explore the relationship between SPARROW, CRSS and 

other modeling capabilities and the relative costs.

SIR 2022-04

Name: Interactive Mapping for the Colorado River Basin – USGS Colorado

Objective: The USGS proposes to publish a service definition file through ScienceBase 

with geospatial services that can be accessed as an interactive map in ArcGIS Online 

(link provided on the ScienceBase page). ScienceBase is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

data-management platform that allows for public data sharing. ScienceBase will create 

an ArcGIS Representational State Transfer (REST) service for a service definition, 

allowing users to access the map in ArcGIS Online through a link on the ScienceBase 

page (for an example, see https://doi.org/10.5066/P943BUQZ). 

Amount: $32,000. 
Technical

 Advisory Page 4 

 Group

Recommendation: The TAG is yet interested in pursuing some type of graphical, 

interactive map which will show salinity inputs to and concentrations within the 

Colorado River System over varying periods of time. The vision is to have such a tool on 

the Forum’s website and accessible and usable by the general public. It will work 

further with USGS on identifying the appropriate tool.

SIR 2022-05 TBD

Name: Upper Green River Hydrosalinity Study, Wyoming

Objective: TBD

Amount: TBD

Recommendation: There is no recommendation as there is no proposal at this time. 

This is simply a placeholder to let the Advisory Council know that the State of Wyoming 

is interested in pursuing a hydro-salinity model of the Upper Green River. The scope 

and details of the study are yet being developed.

cc: Aung Hla, Designated Federal Officer