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

The Council is pleased that the current Administration continues to seek funding from the Congress
to financially support implementation of Reclamation's basin-wide salinity control program and
hopes this support will recognize the importance of including sufficient funding to operate and
maintain completed projects. It should be noted that the Basin states' 30% up-front cost share is
available to fully support the Forum's adopted plan of implementation.

The Council encourages Reclamation to reassert its role as lead federal agency and reconvene the
federal work group to provide a forum for discussing and evaluating the direction, rate and
monitoring of implementation of the federal program by each of the involved federal agencies.
There appears to be great need for coordination that can be facilitated by Reclamation. and the
Council asks that Reclamation report its efforts in this regard at the next Council meeting,

The Council notes that Reclamation's basin-wide salinity control program appears to have much

promise as significant proposals have been received, cost effectiveness numbers are good, and a

large part of the funds initially authorized by Congress have been committed. The Council believes

that Reclamation should return to Congress to request authority for additional spending. The

Council believes that it would be disruptive to have Reclamation's program on hold for a year or two

due to the lack of funding authorization and recognizes that lead time is required to work with

Congress when legislative action is required. Congress should be asked to act on a ceiling increase

in 1999.

The Council is concerned that other federal agencies may be using protocols to determine the cost
effectiveness of salinity control efforts that are not consistent with those used by Reclamation. The
Council asks that Reclamation take the lead role in resolving this issue and suggests that the federal

COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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