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<br />Impact of Budget Cuts
<br />
<br />Reclamation is operating under a
<br />Continuing Resolution which reduced
<br />anticipated funding in fiscal year 1983 by
<br />over $130 million. Generally, Reclamation
<br />will pursue ongoing programs and delay
<br />starting new activities.
<br />This approach resulted in the deletion of
<br />five preconstruction (advance planning)
<br />starts on salinity control units in fiscal year
<br />1983-the Saline Water Use and Disposal
<br />Opportunities, Palo Verde Irrigation District,
<br />McElmo Creek, Lower Gunnison Basin, and
<br />Uinta Basin Units, Although some slippage
<br />will occur, reductions in the plan formulation
<br />and construction programs can generally be
<br />accommodated through reprogramming
<br />without significant delays in ongoing
<br />programs.
<br />The WQIP Construction Schedule
<br />currently used in CRSS Projections shows
<br />the schedule for preconstruction planning
<br />and construction or implementation as of
<br />March 9, 1983, for both Reclamation and the
<br />USDA.
<br />
<br />San Juan Salinity Investigation
<br />
<br />The San Juan River Basin appears to be a
<br />significant salt loading source to the
<br />Colorado River. The Environmental
<br />Protection Agency's 1971 report, Mineral
<br />Quality Problems in the Colorado River
<br />Basin, identified 4100 tons per day loading at
<br />Blanding, Utah, Not enough data were
<br />available, however, to verify that salt loading,
<br />Reclamation recently evaluated the river
<br />system (in view of further data) and found
<br />significant evidence to warrant additional
<br />data collection. Significant loading is
<br />indicated in the Shiprock to Four Corners 28-
<br />mile long reach. The magnitude of the
<br />loading appears to indicate sources in
<br />addition to agriculture. Initial thoughts on
<br />control include collection and industrial
<br />reuse at perhaps the power plants in the area,
<br />treatment, or limited agricultural controls,
<br />The area has critical water needs now and
<br />clean water would be welcomed.
<br />A field draft plan of study has been
<br />completed, The next steps would be a
<br />detailed electrical conductivity survey of the
<br />Shiprock to Four Corners reach, a literature
<br />survey, and contact with other agencies who
<br />
<br />may be investigating the area. Initially, the
<br />whole basin upstream of the Blanding station
<br />should be reviewed,
<br />The initial reconnaisance of this area
<br />would begin in FY 1985 and would take about
<br />1 year in which a Preliminary Findings Report
<br />would be prepared. If that report indicated
<br />controls were possible, then planning could
<br />proceed with a Planning and Environmental
<br />Report which should be finished about 3 to 4
<br />years after the Preliminary Findings Report.
<br />
<br />GJPO Employee Visits Spain
<br />
<br />under Exchange Program
<br />
<br />Bob Madler, Chief of the Water Quality and
<br />Conservation Branch in the Grand Junction
<br />Projects Office, was selected to visit Spain
<br />under the Irrigation Management System
<br />(IMS) program. Madler, accompanied by
<br />Gordon Lyford (Mid-Pacific Regional
<br />Office), Phillip Roth and Jerry Buchheim
<br />(E&R Center), spent 2 weeks in December
<br />1982 visiting projects under the direction of
<br />Spain's Ministry of Hydraulic Works. The trip
<br />was part of a cooperative program between
<br />Reclamation and the Director General of
<br />Hydraulic Works, in accordance with an
<br />Interagency Agreement between the
<br />Departments of State and Interior, The
<br />purpose of the trip was to view and discuss
<br />implementation of Irrigation Management
<br />Services in five of nine Confederations
<br />(regions) in Spain. These Confederations,
<br />which are comparable to Reclamation's
<br />Regions, are organized by major river basins,
<br />Madler and the other Reclamation
<br />representatives visited the Central Office in
<br />Madrid and the TajoConfederation irrigation
<br />project near Guadalajara. Other projects
<br />visited were near Zaragoza in Ebro
<br />Confederation, Don Bonito in Guadiana
<br />Confederation, Murcia in Segura
<br />Confederation, and Seville in Guadalquivir
<br />Confederation. The last two Confederations
<br />have suffered a drought in the past 4 years.
<br />Supplemental irrigation water from the Tajo
<br />River is being brought in to serve a newly
<br />developed irrigation area in the Segura River
<br />Basin,
<br />The Tajo, Ebro, and Guadiana River
<br />Basins are similar to the Grand Valley of the
<br />Colorado. The climate of this part of Spain is
<br />warmer than in the Grand Valley, allowing
<br />
<br />the cultivation of citrus crops; but the
<br />topography, irrigation needs, and
<br />agricultural pattern of hay, grains, and
<br />orchards are comparable, The Seguro and
<br />Guadalquivir River Basins are similar to the
<br />Sacramento River Valley.
<br />Madler has been involved in three visits of
<br />Spanish engineers to GJPO, hosting one
<br />such visit last October. This exchange of
<br />ideas and information is beneficial to both
<br />countries.
<br />While this exchange was not specifically to
<br />benefit salinity control activities, the
<br />exchange of information on irrigation
<br />management systems is indirectly beneficial
<br />to salinity control, particularly since salinity is
<br />not unique to the Colorado River Basin orthe
<br />United States. Additional exchanges will
<br />continue to benefit all countries involved.
<br />
<br />Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit
<br />
<br />Pumping test results of Glenwood and "
<br />Dotsero collection sites have been analyzed
<br />and the results will be used to refine the
<br />recommended plan, The contractor's final
<br />report will be completed in July 1983,
<br />Reclamation's proposed planning
<br />report/advance draft environmental
<br />statement is scheduled for completion late in
<br />1985,
<br />
<br />Big Sandy River Unit
<br />
<br />Recent legislation passed in the State of
<br />Wyoming shows further support of the State
<br />in the Big Sandy River Unit study, The State
<br />is providing an additional $818,000 for further
<br />study; however, the legislation indicates that
<br />state funds will not be spent until the Bureau
<br />of Reclamation commits itself to
<br />preconstruction activities on one of the
<br />alternative development plans.
<br />The plan formulation working document
<br />has been prepared, summarizing the
<br />planning stage of unit studies, It summarizes
<br />the development of alternatives and selection
<br />of a "best" plan, Information from this
<br />document, along with appendices now being
<br />prepared, will be used to complete the
<br />proposed planning report/advance draft
<br />environmental statement
<br />Preconstruction activities are currently
<br />being considered for initiation in fiscal year
<br />1985,
<br />
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