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<br />~._, <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />This broader, more flexible authority will allow Reclamation to expand successful programs <br />such as: <br /> <br />1. Surge valve distribution projects to local farmers <br /> <br />2. Force-accooot/cooperative construction agreements that allow water users to build <br />improvements on their own systems, such as is currently being done in the Grand and <br />Uncompahgre Valleys. <br /> <br />It will also allow Reclamation to pursue new avenues which are currently difficult or impossible to <br />bring within existing authorities, such as: <br /> <br />1. Glenwood Desalination Plant privatization concept proposed and developed by Aqua- <br />Chem <br /> <br />2. Grants to private irrigation companies to improve their systems without complex <br />contracting arrangements that are currently required. <br /> <br />Also, Reclamation will be able to move into new geographic areas where cost-effective salinity <br />control projects appear to be possible such as: <br /> <br />1. <br />2. <br />3. <br /> <br />Unitah Project, Utah <br />Price - San Rafael Unit, Utah <br />San Juan - Hammond Unit, New Mexico <br /> <br />A potential concern with respect to the proposed legislation is that Reclamation's new flexible <br />authority could be used to move in directions not necessarily in line with Colorado's interest and <br />policies. One such concern is in the area of land retirement and water salvage. A recent General <br />Accoooting Office (GAO) report on water transfer policy and a pending GAO investigation of the <br />Salinity Control Program indicate some interest in the marketing of conserved water. It has been <br />proposed that land and water rights could be purchased or systems improved with the "saved" or <br />"salvaged" water reallocated through new water marketing procedures. If the goals of the salinity <br />control program were to be met through land retirement and water marketing, then water conserved <br />from irrigation in Colorado might be delivered downstream for dilution purposes in the Lower Basin. <br /> <br />We currently believe that Reclamation ooderstands that land retirement/water salvage in the <br />Upper Basin should not be a part of the salinity control program for several reasons, including; <br /> <br />1. The full costs of implementing land retirement must include revegetation of dried up land and <br />compensation to local commooities for loss of farming economies, and if these costs are <br />properly included, land retirement is not a cost-effective control. <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />Any saved and salvaged water remains part of the hydrologic system for use by other <br />appropriators and allocation ooder state water law. <br />