WSP12337

• File Number: 8272.300.50
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/31/1998
• Author: CRBSC Advisory Counc
• Title: 1998 Annual Report on the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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1998 ANNUAL REPORT

could occur in a number of ways. Regional Administrators could be more vocal in telling the
success of the effort and in urging the involved federal agencies and the Congress to give needed
support and to seek needed funding. The USEP A could ensure consistency with federal agencies'
actions, the Forum and the states' non-point source programs. An example ofthis may be actions
by the Basin's largest land manager, the BLM. The USEPA could also help resolve disputes like
those that might arise because of efforts ofthe USEP A to treat Indian tribes as states under the Clean
Water Act. A potential for this dispute resolution mechanism may be associated in the future with
tribes in the Basin adopting water quality standards. At a minimum, it would be helpful for the
USEP A to regularly and accurately report all efforts of the USEP A and Colorado River Basin tribes
to develop water quality standards in the Basin, The Council requests that the USEP A become more
active in supporting the programs and funding and, when needed, be prepared to initiate discussion
on how the USEP A will provide dispute resolution that may develop as Indian tribes move to adopt
and administer water quality standards. The Council also asks that the USEP A resolve the Section
7 issue raised on page 4 ofthis report and report that resolution to the Council by April I, 1999,

MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

The Council's budget recommendations represent the required funding for the program to be

successful in maintaining salinity concentrations within the state-adopted and federally-approved

numeric criteria. The funding levels are consistent with and support the conclusions regarding the

funding required to accomplish the plan of implementation adopted by the Forum in its 1996

Review. Unlike many other federal programs, the salinity control program provides a significant

amount of non- federal cost sharing. The states provide 30 percent cost share from the Upper Basin

Fund and Lower Basin Development Fund, In addition to the states' cost share, the local

participating farmers cost share in the USDA on-farm program. The non-federal participants (the

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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