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INTERIOR ROLE <br />Federal coordination is accom- <br />plished using the lead agency <br />concept. Reclamation, acting as lead <br />agency for the Secretary of the <br />Interior, has the responsibility to <br />implement salinity control <br />measures. Interagency coordination <br />between Interior and USDA is <br />formalized through a series of joint <br />agreements executed at the <br />Departmental level. Coordination <br />at the field administrative /technical <br />level is accomplished through the <br />Colorado River Interagency Salinity <br />Control Committee. <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br />Units authorized for construction <br />are the Grand Valley, Paradox <br />Valley, Las Vegas Wash, Lower <br />Gunnison Basin, and the McElmo <br />Creek Unit as a part of the Dolores <br />Project. The frontispiece map shows <br />all units under current or past <br />investigation. <br />Reclamation's construction of the <br />Grand Valley Unit Stage One is <br />complete. A field station, 7 miles of <br />the Highline Canal lining, and the <br />associated pipe lateral construction <br />were finished for the 1983 irrigation <br />season. A moss and debris removal <br />structure was built to control the <br />trash problems in the lined canal. <br />Results from Stage One onsite <br />monitoring were evaluated, and the <br />lining program is reducing salt <br />loading by 21,900 tons per year. <br />In Stage Two, the construction of <br />the west end Government Highline <br />Canal was completed with an <br />additional 5,600 tons of salt <br />precluded from entering the river <br />system annually. <br />Reclamation cooperates with <br />USDA in their efforts in the Grand <br />Valley. USDA's program involves <br />installation of underground pipe- <br />lines and ditch lining, land leveling, <br />and improvement of surface irri- <br />gation systems and other onfarm <br />practices. Specific USDA accom- <br />plishments are discussed later in <br />this document. <br />Monitoring thus far has shown a <br />reduction in salt load of over <br />63,000 tons annually as a result of <br />combined USDA and Reclamation <br />efforts in the Grand Valley area. <br />Concern has been expressed over <br />the impacts to wetland and riparian <br />habitats associated with construc- <br />tion and implementation of the <br />salinity control features. Progress is <br />being made on these two concerns. <br />Reclamation purchased over <br />500 acres of river bottom lands and <br />sought transfer of over 500 acres of <br />adjacent BLM lands to develop a <br />wildlife management area in Grand <br />Valley. <br />Under the USDA program, <br />farmers have also volunteered to <br />implement approximately 600 acres <br />of wildlife practices in the Grand <br />Valley area. <br />Before initiation of salinity <br />control activities, the entire Grand