WSP08620

• File Number: 8272.100.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1999
• Author: CRBSCF
• Title: 1999 Review - Water Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Program Funding

Adequate funding is required to meet the standards, Funds are provided from federal and
non-federal sources, Federal appropriations, Basin states cost-share funds, and local participant
funds are used to implement the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program, The Basin states
and the local producers have funds available and stand ready to implement the program called for
in this report,

Figure 1-2 shows federal appropriations for the Colorado River Basin salinity control
program over the past twelve years, Annual appropriations to Reclamation were as large as
$34,566,000 as recently as 1992, but in 1998 they were only $7,600,000, Because of improved cost
effectiveness, the Basin states believe the appropriation to Reclamation can be smaller than in the
past, but find that about $17,500,000 is needed each year through the planning period ofthis report,
An increased funding ceiling is now needed for the Reclamation program,

Historic Federal Funding Levels

$60,000,000

$50,000,000

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$40,000,000

$30,000,000

$20,000,000

$10,000,000

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Figure 1-2

Following the passage DfFAIRA in 1996, federal funding is provided to USDA each year
for distribution for environmental enhancement efforts through the nationwide EQIP. In 1991 and
1992, when salinity control was a separate line-item, $14,783,000 was made available to the
USDA's Colorado River Basin salinity control program by Congress, but in 1998 and 1999 USDA
allocated only $3,9 million and $5, I million, A solution to this under-funding problem is for USDA
to designate the Colorado River Basin as a national conservation priority area and increase funding
to the Colorado River salinity control activities ofEQIP to $12 Million per year,

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