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<br /> <br />;. <br /> <br />ill. Federal Programs Resulting in Salvage <br /> <br />HB 91-1154 directed that this analysis be limited to "water salvage which may result from <br />federal programs, including salinity control." This limitation probably reflects the fact that <br />irrig~~:c;a efficiency improvements are already being installed in the Colorado River basin <br />by the Federal Salinity Control Program. Participants in the salinity program were uncertain <br />as to the effect these improvements would have on their water rights. HB 91-1110 was an <br />attempt to clarify the status of their water rights after salinity improvements are made, and <br />to grant participants a state recognized right to claim and transfer water no longer necessary <br />for diversion as a result of the salinity program. <br /> <br />Another reason for limiting the salvage analysis to that resulting from federal programs <br />may have been a belief that a saved water right could thereby be limited to the Western <br />Slope. The major U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) projects, including the Colorado-Big <br />Thompson and Fry-Ark, make their diversions on the West Slope. During debate on HB <br />91-1110 it became clear that the bill would be more acceptable if it did not apply statewide. <br />The Arkansas and South Platte River basins were presented as extremely over-appropriated <br />areas with extensive reliance on return flows. By excluding these basins, but avoiding the <br />appearance of special legislation, the bill's chances were presumed to be improved. <br /> <br />Federal programs do have significant potential for generating saved or salvaged water as <br />described below. The extent of those programs is very broad however, potentially reaching <br />all corners of the State. <br /> <br />A Federal Salinity Program <br /> <br />The Federal Salinity Control program was developed as a cooperative effort of state and <br />federal agencies to manage high salt concentrations in the Colorado River. Salinity was a <br />concern because of delivery obligations to Mexico, and also because it could interfere with <br />beneficial uses of water in the basin states, particularly in California and Arizona. The <br />program was established by the Salinity Control Act of 1974 and revised with amendments <br />in 1984. 43 U.S.c. Sections 1571-1599. The primary federal salinity activities with regards <br />to irrigation are construction of improved delivery systems by the USBR, and improved on- <br />farm irrigation systems designed and partially funded by the Soil Conservation Service <br />(SCS). Participation in either of these programs is entirely voluntary. In general USBR is <br />lining large canals and replacing leaky main ditches. SCS is helping farmers to better <br />manage and deliver water once it arrives on-farm with sprinkler systems and lined farm <br />laterals. Both activities are designed to reduce salt load into the Colorado River by <br />reducing the deep percolation which causes highly saline return flows in certain geographic <br />areas. In Colorado those areas include the Grand Valley on the Colorado River, the <br />Uncompahgre Valley in the lower Gunnison Basin, and the McElmo Creek area near <br />Cortez, Colorado. The salinity control program also has procedures for addressing <br />municipal and industrial salt discharges through state water quality regulation. <br /> <br />10 <br />