BOARD00711

• Board Meeting Date: 1/22/2003
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

12

several potential projects in Colorado. The Forum has II-Iso created a subcommittee to begin .
examining the implications and advantages of getting the salinity control program more closely
involved with efforts to control selenium loading in the Basin. Copies of the final Review Report are
available upon request.

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control-Advisory Council Report: The Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Advisory Council is the federally chartered body that gives advice to the federal
agencies participating in the salinity control program. :The Council basically consists of Forum
members from each of the seven Basin States, but meets under more formal requirements for notice
and minutes. The Council met in San Diego on October 29 and 30, 2003, and is in the process of
finalizing its report presenting findings and recommendations to the federal agencies. The major
recommendations are for federal funding in FY 2004 and 2005. The US Dept. of Agriculture will
seek between $13.8 and 25 million, the us Bureau of Land Management $ 5.2 million, and the US
Bureau of Reclamation $17.5 million. These funding levels are consistent with prior year
recommendations, but higher than the funding actually provided by Congress in recent years. Board
staff plans to prepare letters from the Director to the relevant Congressional Appropriations
Committees supporting the Advisory Council's funding recommendations.

Colorado River Salinity-EQIP Funding: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
delivers USDA's portion of the salinity control program through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program. (EQIP). EQIP was re-authorized in the 2002 Fann Bill and proposed nationwide
funding at significantly increased levels. The Salinity Control Forum anticipates a corresponding
(300-500 percent) increase in funds for salinity control in the Colorado River Basin if Congress
appropriates funds at authorized levels. .

The Forum has been working with the NRCS, state agencies, and local water User groups to design a
program capable of utilizing the increased funds. In Colorado there is an effort underway to do
planning studies to support new salinity control projoots in the Mancos, Rifle, Whitewater, DeBeque,
and Plateau Valley areas. In addition we have been working with the Colorado Soil Conservation
Board to provide enhanced technical assistance and accelerated program delivery in the existing.
salinity control areas (Cortez, Montrose, Delta, and Gtand Valley).

Yuma Desalt Plant: The Lower Colorado Region of~eclamation is working on a report to Congress
that looks at alternatives to operating the YDP and al~o seeks funding to upgrade and operate the
YDP. Staff has been involved in these ongoing discussions. One of the alternatives under discussion
is for Reclamation to enter into voluntary forbearanc~ agreements with agricultural users, including
agricultural users in the Upper Basin. This is of significant concern and certainly has many issues
associated with it. We will discuss this further with the Board at the meeting.

Coordinated Long-Range Operating Criteria Review: Reclamation began the 6th five-year review
of the Coordinated Long-Range Operating Criteria in March 2002. 12 of the 16 letters received
indicated no changes were required. Most of the chaJ;1ges requested in the other letters related to
additions that some felt were necessary to reflect legislation passed or rules promulgated since the
Criteria were adopted in 1970. Public consultation m;eetings were held in September and
Reclamation continues to discuss internally whether io propose changes to the Criteria. Once a
decision is reached, a Federal Register Notice will be' issued containing Reclamation's response and
including any proposed changes. The Notice is now expected to be completed in March or April. It
has been rumored that environmental groups are giving a high priority to filing a lawsuit concerning .
the Criteria.