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SUMMARY The Regional Director's proposed feasibility report for the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit of the Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program (CRWQIP) is scheduled for completion later in 1981. Until then, this status report will inform concerned interests of the costs and impacts associated with the recommended plan. The Lower Gunnison Basin Unit investigation in west-central Colorado was authorized by Public Laws 93-320 and 96-375 to determine the most cost-effective way to reduce the salinity in the Colorado River system by reducing the quantity of poor quality water entering the Uncompahgre River. The Uncompahgre River, which carries over 350,000 tons of salt from the study area, flows into the Gunnison River which, in turn, flows into the Colorado River The salt is picked up from both off-farm and on-farm sources and results in an increase in salinity at Imperial Dam of about 37 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The Soil Conservation Service and the Water and Power Resources Service are coordinating individual studies in the total salinity reduction effort, Most of the Uncompahgre Project irrigation facilities were con- structed before 1915 and much of the system was cut directly into the saline soils and rock. Conveyance system seepage through the unlined canals results in a loss of water and the forementioned salt loading. A proposed Uncompahgre Project Rehabilitation and Betterment (R&B) Program has been coordinated with the salinity control investigation; the CiJ1609 programs would supplement one another. Following initiation of this study in 1976, a strong public involve- ment program aided in formulating and evaluating a number of alternatives.