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the Secretary of the Interior the option to expend funds available in the Basin Fund to carry out cost-shared salinity measures consistent with the 30 percent allocation authorized by P.L. 98-569. This cost sharing option is available for both the USDA and Reclamation programs. A. PROGRAM STATUS 1. Bureau of Land Management Salinity Control Program The BLM recognizes and is committed to its role in reducing the contribution of salts to the Colorado River system from public lands. As in past years, BLM undertakes this responsibility through the multitude of individual management decisions that are made within each BLM jurisdiction. While salinity is not segregated as a specific program, it is affected by almost all other land management decisions that are made. Progress in salt reduction is therefore achieved through efforts to minimize the impacts of grazing, protect riparian areas, reduce offroad vehicle impacts, conduct prescribed burns and generally manage vegetative cover and reduce erosion on public lands. Due to the imprecise boundaries encompassed by many management decisions and the large areas affected, it is difficult to determine actual impacts on salinity with any precision. However, significant reductions in salt loading to the Colorado River are being achieved each year, and in fiscal year 1999 BLM hopes to develop better mechanisms to quantify the reduction in salt loading associated with many of these land-use decisions and activities. 2. Bureau of Reclamation and U. S. Department of Agriculture Salinity Control Program General Investigations and Construction The USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program consisting of Colorado River Basin salinity control activities is administered through the cooperative efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Farm Service Agency; and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. In fiscal year 1998, 53.6 million was allocated to salinity control activities under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These funds were used for cost-sharing, technical assistance, and education assistance activities. a. Grand Valley, Colorado -Implementation has been underway on this unit since 1979. The application of salinity control and wildlife habitat replacement practices continues. Farmers are installing underground pipelines, gated pipe, concrete-lined ditches, land leveling and a variety of other practices. The installation of surge irrigation systems continues to increase. The surge units provide the participants with the capability of performing fertigation, which involves applying liquid nitrogen fertilizer during the soak stage of irrigation. Acceptance of this practice is an additional incentive for farmers to install surge systems. 68