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<br />1592(b)(4), (1984 Amendment). Reinforcing the Salinity Program's general deference to <br />state water law is detailed language in various contracts and documents pertaining to the <br />Grand Valley Unit wherein the United States disclaimed any right to the salvaged or saved <br />water, leaving the allocation of any such water to be decided under state law. "Nothing in <br />this contract shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, or conflict with the right of the <br />Association to make use of all water adjudicated for use within the Gravity Division in a <br />manner consistent with the laws and constitution of the State of Colorado; provided, <br />however, that any water saved by the rehabilitation and operation of project facilities may <br />be applied only to those lands within the Gravity Division which are classified as <br />irrigablemin a manner which shall not result in any material increase of salinity inflow to <br />the Colorado River." Grand Valley Water Users Association-USBR Contract for <br />Rehabilitation, Operation, and Maintenance of Distribution Facilities, April 10, 1986. "The <br />Districts have agreed not to use this saved water [an estimated 1,760 AF per year from <br />reduced seepage] in a manner which would materially increase the salinity contribution to <br />the Colorado River. Beyond that requirement, the (sic) Reclamation and the salinity <br />program defer to Colorado State water law to determine the destiny of the salvaged water." <br />Price-Stub Ditch Improvements, Draft Environmental Assessment, June 1990, page 16. <br /> <br />Participants in the program agree not to use the improved systems or saved water in <br />any way that would cause additional salt loading to the river. This agreement effectively <br />prevents participants from using "saved water" to add new irrigated acres under an improved <br />ditch system. Colorado water law similarly would prevent use of an existing decreed right <br />on new irrigated acres as an expanded use. <br /> <br />Environmental impacts caused by improved irrigation systems must be mitigated to <br />some degree. The USBR is required to provide replacement of wetland and wildlife habitat <br />to offset the losses to these values caused by the improved conveyances it is constructing. <br />Participants in the SCS program are encouraged to participate in a voluntary program to <br />replace wetland and wildlife habitat lost as a result of the program. <br /> <br />N. Availability of Salvage or Saved Water in the Grand Valley <br /> <br />The Bureau and the SCS have been analyzing salt loading and water use in the <br />Grand Valley since the early 1970's. Hydrosalinity models analyze water use and salt <br />movement by measuring and projecting water flows and salt concentrations at various gages <br />in the Grand Valley. The model is based on a mass balance approach that tracks all water <br />and salt inflows into the valley, accounts for water use in the valley, and checks against <br />known outflows. The Bureau and SCS then formulate and design project features to reduce <br />saline return flows in the most effective manner by targeting those areas that produce the <br />highest salt load. These plans have been developed in phases, and refined based on <br />experience and data gained from earlier phases. Table 2 summarizes the current <br />components of Stage IT of the Grand Valley Salinity Control Unit. <br /> <br />4 <br />