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<br />2000 ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br />on the impacts land management decisions have on salt loading (both positive and negative <br />impacts). Sometimes when land resources are used, there is a following negative impact on water <br />quality and offset programs must be implemented if the net effort on the water resources is to be <br />positive. <br /> <br />..... <br />0) <br />..... <br />~ <br /> <br />The Council urges the BLM to seek funding for salt reduction activities administered and funded <br />either solely by the BLM or in cooperation with state and other federal agencies. The Council <br />recommends that the BLM continue developing, in cooperation with the Forum's Work Group, <br />a program which will allow the tracking of salt load reductions and the expenditure of funds that <br />result in a reduction of salt contributions. This tracking effort should not only identifY areas <br />where the salt load is reduced through BLM efforts, but also where BLM activities have resulted <br />in an increased salt load. <br /> <br />A requirement imposed on the BLM by the Congress as it passed PL 106-459 (see Attachment D) <br />was that the BLM "prepare a report on the status of implementation of the comprehensive program <br />for minimizing salt contributions to the Colorado River from lands administered by the Bureau of <br />Land Management." The Council recommends that BLM work with the Forum's work group to <br />develop a report to Congress that is both substantive and meaningful. The Council notes that <br />previously (1984) the BLM was required by a statutory provision to report to Congress. In the <br />Council's view, that previous report was, at best, perfunctory and not in keeping with the intent <br />of the Congress. The Council believes that the preparation of the required new report provides <br />an excellent opportunity for the BLM to formulate and set forth its plans and intentions; to step <br />forward and clearly state what it believes its role is in reducing salt loading to the Colorado River <br />from lands administered by the BLM. <br /> <br />The Council notes that there have been several recent commitments by the Administration in the <br />form of interagency agreements or action plans to implement water quality programs on land <br />administered by the federal government. Accordingly, the Council recommends the BLM step <br />forward to describe what these proclamations will and should mean for the salinity control <br />program. The Council notes that because the passage of the legislation that became PL 106-459 <br />was delayed, the date for the submittal of this new report to the Congress was past before the <br />legislation became law. However, because it is clear that Congress intended to require a prompt <br />report, the Council urges the BLM to promptly reveal its intended timetable for the preparation <br />of the report to the Forum and to expeditiously and interactively work with other involved federal <br />agencies, the Forum and its Work Group to complete the mandated report. <br /> <br />COLORADO lUVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL <br /> <br />5 <br />