High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration ProgramParts1&2

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Program Modifications Program activities were accomplished within annual budget appropriations and subject to the overall program budget ceiling. Certain program modifications were included in the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (P.L. 102 -575, 1992). In referring to the High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program, Title XXVI of P.L. 102 -575 increased the total budget ceiling to modify or extend projects already in progress to obtain better data, ensure aquifer protection, and to allow for recharge cycles that were delayed by drought. These provisions also permitted adjustments in the budget appropriations to compensate for inflation effects, clarified the duration of demonstration projects, and deferred the program summary report until project completion. Early in 1993, auditors from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the status of the program. OIG determined the program was proceeding toward the original legislative requirements and objectives with the demonstration projects that were already in progress and concluded that further involvement in the construction and operation of the deferred recharge projects was not necessary to meet the intent of the Act. Reclamation therefore limited further Phase R funding to the 13 projects in progress. Phase II development for an additional project (the Equus Beds project in Kansas) was added in 1995 by a specific legislative action to make a total of 14 projects funded in the program Phase R. In 1996, the High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program was transferred within Reclamation from the minor construction budget to the science and technology budget. This shift had no impact on the sponsored project budgets and involved only minor administrative changes and agency reporting requirements. Monitoring and Environmental Review Water quality and groundwater protection were important aspects of the Phase I program investigations and Phase II project planning. In accordance with the Act, Reclamation and EPA entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the water quality review and planning process and to evaluate potential impacts to surface water and groundwater quality resulting from the demonstration projects. The MOU was signed by the respective U.S. Department of the Interior and EPA representatives on June 21, 1985. Reclamation also consulted with EPA, USGS, and other Federal, State, and local agencies to obtain relevant data, studies, assistance, and technical resources useful in conducting the Phase I project reviews and preliminary investigations. Although not specified in the authorizing legislation, coordination was also carried out with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and State fish and game agencies to assure that adverse impacts to wildlife resources were mitigated as appropriate and opportunities to enhance wetlands and wildlife resources were developed, where practical, as part of the demonstration projects. In some cases, FWS made recommendations for mitigation that were incorporated into the demonstration recharge project plans. L.4 High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program