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<br />.-4 <br /> <br />1. <br />2. <br />3. <br /> <br />Paradox Valley, deep well injection of intercepted saline groood water <br />Grand Valley, irrigation system improvements to canals and laterals <br />Lower Gunnison (Uncompahgre) replacement system for winter water delivery, <br />currently made in unlined canals <br />Dolores/McElmo Creek, irrigation system improvements to canals and laterals. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />4. <br /> <br />The $125 million ceiling, adjusted to approximately $301 million in 1994 dollars, will soon be <br />reached, terminating all additional expenditures on these projects. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Colorado has supported the CRBSC Program primarily because it removes a potential <br />impediment to fun development of our Colorado River Compact apportionments. In 1974, there was <br />a risk that stateline salinity standards would be adopted which could have led to interstate litigation <br />and regulatory enforcement of those standards within Colorado. In lieu of this divisive approach, <br />the Seven Basin States and federal government designed a cooperative Basinwide program that would <br />protect Lower Basin water users from increased salinity concentrations while specifically recognizing <br />the Upper Basin's right to develop and consuml;: its full compact entitlements. <br /> <br />In addition to removing an obstacle to water development Colorado water users have received <br />financial assistan~e in improving their systems to minimize salt loading into the Colorado River. <br />This volootary program has allowed water users to move toward "best management" type practices <br />without regulatory interference in their operations. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The program is widely viewed as model for non-point source pollution control. The states, <br />'for their part, have agreed to implement point SIJurce salinity controls through their NPDES permit <br />programs, by reqUiring salt dischargers to examine the potential for salt removal treatment on their <br />individual return flow to river systems. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />Reclamation has several new projects under study which ooder the existing process would <br />require specific Congressional approval. Both the Inspector General of the Department of Interior <br />and Reclamation's own recently completed l>ublic Review of the Salinity Control Program, <br />concluded that this authorization process is cUlhbersome and inhibits rapid implementation of the <br />most cost-effective control strategies. The nel;:d to increase the funding ceiling to complete the <br />existing projects provided another incentive to seek legislative changes to the Act. Following <br />discussions with the States, Reclamation, and Congressional staff, the CRBSC Forum drafted and <br />introduced legislation this summer. <br /> <br />The principal amendments to the Act proposed in S. 2319 are: <br /> <br />1. to provide $75 million of additional spending authorization for new and existing projects <br /> <br />2. to authorize Reclamation to implement new projects "... directly, or (by) grants... or advances <br />of funds to non-federal entities under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require. .. <br />Such program shall consist of cost-effective measures and associated works to reduce salinity .. <br />from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, industrial sources, erosion of public and <br />private lands, or other sources that the Secretary considers appropriate." <br />