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<br />r.. - - - ~ , <br />Li"C;Oih <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Service and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). Under this <br />program, 77 surge valves were installed by farmers in the last two <br />years. Evaluations are being conducted to determine the benefits <br />of these systems over conventional systems. The salinity reduction <br />practices applied to date account for a total annual salt load <br />reduction of 50,200 tons~ ~t of a total planned reduction from - <br />USDA activities of 163,000 tons. <br /> <br />Dolores Proiect/McElmo Creek Unit (Reclamation-Department of <br />Aqriculturel - Reach 1 of the Towaoc Canal became operational for <br />the 1991 irrigation season and is scheduled to be completed in <br />1992. The contract for construction of Reach 2 of the Towaoc Canal <br />was awarded in September 1990 and scheduled for completion in 1993. <br />The Rocky Ford Laterals contract will be awarded in 1992 and is <br />scheduled for completion in 1994. Coordination continues with the <br />SCS, Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company, and the Dolores Water <br />Conservancy District. <br /> <br />USDA Colorado River Salinity Control funds for contracts have <br />been allocated to this area for two years. Farmers have entered <br />into 38 salinity control contracts to date and over 130 <br />applications are on file. The application of practices is well <br />underway with farmers installing side-roll sprinkler systems, <br />underground pipelines and gated pipe. The annual salt load <br />reduction accomplished as of the end of the reporting period is <br />2,300 tons. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Water Oua1itv Improvement Proqram Units <br />(Reclamation-Department of Aqricu1turel <br /> <br />The following Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) studiesl <br />were continued in this reporting period. <br /> <br />uinta Basin Unit (Reclamation-Department of Aqriculturel - The <br />phase II study was completed in 1989. Reclamation has proposed <br />this unit for construction; the proposal was sent to the Department <br />of the Interior for review. The department has requested Office of <br />Management and Budget to comment on budgetary impacts of the unit. <br />The Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the <br />Environmental Protection Agency have also been asked to comment on <br />/j the plan. ,s?me investigations continue into managing land to <br />\.~'~ control sallnlty. <br />J"'-\ --:--- <br /> <br />~ <br />K: <br />Jt~ <br /> <br /> <br />A total of 323 salinity control contracts are in effect, with <br />about 250 applications on file awaiting funding by USDA. The major <br />onfarm salinity reduction practices installed are sprinkler <br />systems, improved surface systems and underground pipelines. To <br />date, an annual salt load reduction of 50,000 tons of the planned <br />106,800 tons has been achieved. Replacement of wildlife values <br />foregone continues to receive high priority in the selection of <br />contract awards. Wetlands have been developed through construction <br />of shallow ponds and habitat created through vegetative plantings. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />8 <br />