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. . ---- :i ~~, J!!;: . C=rd7 , . A similar interagency team has been organized to rank Colorado's watersheds. Geoloqical Survey The Geological Survey's Water Resources Division provides and analyzes hydrologic information to assess the Nation's water resources. The Survey provides information required by the federal, state, and local agencies to address Colorado River water quantity and quality problems. The Survey has completed or has underway a number of studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin. An ongoing study in the Dolores Project area is evaluating water quality problems identified with long-term irrigation, including salinity and selenium concentrations. On the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, studies will determine irrigated agriculture's contribution to the high selenium concentrations. Studies related to selenium are also underway in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River areas. Similar studies in the middle Green River basin have shown high concentrations of selenium. The USGS and the Fish and Wildlife Service are providing the technical support to Reclamation for the development of a plan for remedial action. In the Aneth area in southeastern Utah, the USGS, with funding from EPA, BLM, Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Navajo Tribe, and the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, and support from private industry, will define the areas of high salinity and, if possible, the causes. Department of AQricu1ture For Fiscal Year 1991, Congress appropriated $14.783 million for the USDA Colorado River salinity Control program. The following information describes the major salinity control activities carried out by the involved USDA agencies. Biq Sandv River unit - At the end of the reporting period, 28 salinity control contracts had been signed with farmers in the Big Sandy area for onfarm salinity reduction practices. Most farmers are installing low pressure center pivot irrigation systems and are achieving significant water savings. The practices installed to date account for an annual salt load reduction of 9,000 tons. Efforts continue with the voluntary wildlife habitat replacement program. Much interagency cooperation has been underway in this area to find ways to support the wildlife habitat replacement program. This effort has resulted in FWS providing assistance to a salinity control participant for installation of a large wildlife pond. Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - Implementation is now underway in three of the four subareas in this unit. At the end of Fiscal Year 1991, 94 salinity control contracts had been signed with farmers and groups, and over 400 additional applications are on file. Farmers are installing underground pipelines, gated pipe, ditch 11