7806

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7806
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: Progress Report No. 18,
• Copyright Material: NO

Chapter 1

discharges, and the reduction of the salt-loading effects of irrigation return flows. The plan also
called for the inclusion of water quality management plans to comply with section 208 provisions
of the Clean Water Act after the adoption of the plans by the States and approval by EPA. It also
contemplated the use of saline water for industrial purposes and future salinity control.

Public Law 98-569, signed October 30, 1984, amends Public Law 93-320. The amendments to the
Salinity Control Act authorized the entire U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) salinity control'
program. The amendments also authorized two new units for construction under Reclamation
program. Additional units will need to be authorized to maintain the salinity standards and have
been included in the plan of implementation for the salinity control program.

In 1993, the Inspector General concluded that the lengthy congressional authorization process for
Reclamation projects was impeding the implementation of cost-effective measures. In 1994,
Reclamation conducted a public review of the program. In 1995, Public Law 104-20 authorized
Reclamation to implement a basinwide approach to salinity control and manage its implementation.
Reclamation will request proposals, rank the proposals based on their cost and performance risk
factors, and award funds to the most highly ranked projects.

In 1996, Public Law 104-127 changed the authorities provided to USDA significantly. Rather than
carry out a separate salinity program, the Secretary of Agriculture was directed to carry out salinity
control measures in the Colorado River Basin as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program established under the Food Security Act of 1985.

4