Laserfiche WebLink
<br />;10 .) 3 7 3 <br /> <br />1998 ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br />this role and urges the USGS to continue to have professional staff available to perform key <br />analyses. <br /> <br />The Council is concerned that a USGS Internet web site reports that a major impact of the Colorado <br /> <br /> <br />River Basin Salinity Control Program is the loss of artificial wetlands. The Advisory Council <br /> <br /> <br />appreciates the USGS' efforts to distribute information but is concerned about the accuracy of this <br /> <br /> <br />statement and the potential for misinterpretation. The USGS should consult with the Forum on items <br /> <br /> <br />published regarding the program and requests that the above referenced web site be reviewed in <br /> <br /> <br />consultation with the Work Group to accurately portray the program. <br /> <br />Department of Agriculture (USDA) <br /> <br />The Council finds that the recent designation of the Colorado River Basin salinity control program <br /> <br /> <br />as a "special interest area" by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a very much appreciated and <br /> <br />helpful step as the USDA continues administering the salinity control program as an integral <br /> <br /> <br />component of the EQIP program as mandated by Congress. The Council has requested previously <br /> <br />that a national priority area be designated for the Colorado River Basin. Administration of this <br /> <br /> <br />newly created EQIP special interest area will give case in point information to help judge whether <br /> <br /> <br />or not a special interest area designation is adequate and appropriate. <br /> <br />The Council notes that in FY 98 there was spent in the EQIP program approximately $3.5 million <br /> <br />ofEQIP funding (including technical assistance) on Colorado River salinity control. The allocation <br /> <br /> <br />of$4.4 million ofFY 99 funds is a welcomed increase. The Basin states stand ready to up-front cost <br /> <br />share in this increased funding. However, this level of funding is still far short of the $12 million <br /> <br /> <br />annually that the Advisory Council determined was necessary to fully implement the USDA's <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL <br /> <br />1 1 <br />