WSPC02444

• File Number: 8272
• Description: Colorado River - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - CRBSCP
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/31/1997
• Title: 1997 Annual Report of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - Draft
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

000771

1997 ANNUAL REPORT

DRAFT

. MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

The Council's budget recommendations represent the minimum fundinl! required for the program

to be successful in maintaining salinity levels within the federally-mandated and state-adopted

numeric criteria. The funding levels are consistent with and support the conclusions regarding the

funding required to accomplish the plan of implementation recently adopted by the Forum in its

1996 Review. Unlike many other federal programs, the salinity control program provides a

significant amount of non- federal cost sharing. The states provide 30 percent cost share from the

Upper Basin Fund and Lower Basin Development Fund. In addition to the states' cost share, the

local par1icipating fanners cost share in the USDA on-farm program. The non-federal par1icipants

(the states, land owners, irrigation districts, etc.) again stand ready in FY 99 to contribute their share

of the program costs as an up-front payment. The Council urges the federal agencies to vigorously

pursue adequate funding so as to allow timely implementation of the salinity program in a vigorous

and cost-effective manner. The agencies' funding requests should be in accordance with Executive

. Order 12088, which directs the head of each executive agency to take all necessary actions for the

prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution with respect to federal facilities and

activities under the control of the agency. The salinity control program also looks to be an in-place

success story that the President may want to emulate in his Clean Water Initiative.

Table I contains the Council's recommendations for the federal cost share for FY 99 and FY 2000.

These funds are for the construction activities necessary to meet the program objectives. The

Council will forward these recommendations to the Congress and will seek their support for

maintaining adequate funding for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. The Council

wishes to emphasize that any shortfall in these funding levels will have to be offset by increased

funding in subsequent years. In addition, delays in the funding ofthe salinity control program will

result in much larger total federal expenditures to achieve and maintain the water quality objectives

for the Colorado River.

.

COWRADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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