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<br />2371 <br /> <br />one-fourth at a specific conductance of 35 millimhos/cm2 [5]. Extra- <br />polation of the data suggests that water use would cease entirely at <br />50 millimhos/cm2. It is difficult to relate this to actual field condi- <br />tions in which there are other plant species and root zone depths are <br />not well known. However, it appears that the natural vegetation <br />would thrive for well over 100 years with a gradually declining con- <br />sumptive use rate. <br />Salinity Control Potential <br />In order to develop the ultimate irrigable acreage, most or all of <br />the canals and laterals will need to be lined and onfarm efficiency will <br />need to be increased from the present 56 percent to approximately 71 <br />percent. There is strong economic incentive to develop additional <br />land and the Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to construct the <br />necessary system improvements within the next decade. Improvements <br />in onfarm efficiency are anticipated under the IMS program and possi- <br />bly other programs. Consequently, a relatively high degree of effi- <br />ciency is expected to be attained which will have a beneficial effect <br />on salt returns to the river. <br />Assuming that conditions without a Federal salinity project are <br />those projected on Figure 5, additional potential for reducing the net <br />salt discharge to the river lies primarily in increasing onfarm efficien- <br />cy above 71 percent. With increased onfarm efficiency salt retention <br />would be greater until the ground water reached the same salinity as <br />the leaching fraction. <br />The feasibility of attaining onfarm efficiencies greater than <br />71 percent is not known. It is questionable whether they would be <br />attained on the Reservation under the present conditions of water <br />supply and acreage projections. <br />A remaining means for reducing salt discharge from the <br />Reservation is the potential use of agricultural drainage for power- <br />plant cooling or other industrial use. No definite proposals of this <br />nature have yet been made. <br /> <br />22 <br />