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2000 ANNUAL REPORT potential for significant organizational change due to the change of personnel in the federal .. administration as a result of the recent election, the Council requests that each agency quickly ~ identify with whom the responsibility for salinity control lies within their respective agencies. The -.;r agencies should make this information available to the Forum's Executive Director and Advisory Council members at the earliest possible date. The Council subscribes to the implementation plan described in the 1999 Review. The Council continues to be concerned that insufficient funds are being requested by the federal agencies. This lack of funding continues to cause delays in the implementation of salinity control reduction measures. These are measures that, when in place, will provide substantial cost-effective benefits to the Basin. It is imperative that the federal agencies pro-actively encourage Congress to appropriate the funds necessary to carry out the salinity control activities set forth in the 1999 Review. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) On November 7, 2000, Public Law 106-459 became effective. It increased Reclamation's authority for spending under the Salinity Control Act. The Council commends the States, the Forum and the Department of the Interior for supporting and working to achieve passage of this needed legislation. PL 106-459 increased the cost ceiling for the Basinwide Program from $75,000,000 to $175,000,000. This increase will allow the Bureau's Basinwide Program to continue uninterrupted for several more years. A copy of PL 106-459 is made a part of this report as Attachment D. The Council notes that the Bureau, with a capable staff in the Upper Colorado Region, has been effectively implementing the Basinwide Program, with one exception. When compared with the original Bureau salinity control program, the Basinwide Program is about twice as cost-effective, which means that twice as much salt is removed per available dollar. This Basinwide Program is also much more cost-effective from the federal perspective because the program, as now authorized, allows for the Basin states to cost-share up-front. For every $100 of federal funds spent, there is an additional $43 of state funds used by the Bureau in its contracts. The program has been well accepted by the private sector and this acceptance is very important due to the program's reliance on the private sector to implement the program. The exception that the Council finds with respect to effective implementation of the program is due to the reliance of COLORADO RIVER BASIN SAUNITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL 3