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<br />0&2145 <br /> <br />During fiscal year 1987, SCS was involved with salinity control planning in <br />the Big Sandy River (Wyoming) and the Price-San Rafael Rivers (Utah). For the <br />Big Sandy unit, SCS developed a recommended plan which includes low-pressure, <br />pumped sprinkler irrigation system improvements on about 15,000 acres, which <br />is about 85% of the irrigated acres in the project area. Because of potential <br />fish and wildlife habitat effects and consequences of the salinity control <br />project, SCS prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) according <br />to the National Environmental Policy Act. Through consultation with the EPA, <br />representatives of USDI agencies, and the State of Wyoming, a final EIS was <br />prepared and published. After a record of decision has been rendered by the <br />SCS State Conservationist in \,yoming, implementation of the Big Sandy project <br />may proceed. <br /> <br />A coordinated planning effort with the USBR on the Price-San Rafael River in <br />Utah has been underway for over 2. years. The goal of this effort is to <br />provide a more cost-effective salinity control project which utilizes the USBR <br />off-farm canal and lateral improvements with the USDA onfarm gravity-pressure <br />sprinkler irrigation systems. <br /> <br />Coordinated planning is also underway on the Dolores-McElmo Creek project in <br />Colorado. The USBR is now proceeding with the previously authorized Dolores <br />River irrigation development project and the recently authorized salinity <br />control efforts in the McElmo Creek area. SCS has assigned additional <br />technical staff to ass'ist in the coordinated design of off-farm irrigation <br />improvements to ensure compatibility with future onfarm irrigation <br />improvements provided through the CRSC program. <br /> <br />Addressing environmental issues and concerns, along with earlier coordination <br />with USDR activities is critical to a cost-effective program. The program <br />goal is to make more efficient use of Federal and non-Federal funds in an <br />environmentally acceptable manner. <br /> <br />USDA does not foresee any additional aaministrative or legislative needs <br />regarding these activities. <br /> <br />Monitoring and Evaluation <br /> <br />Responsibilities for monitoring and evaluating USDA onfarm activities have <br />been assigned to SCS. For the Unita Basin and Grand Valley projects, special <br />monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans were developed in 1982 and initial <br />M&E field activities began in 1983. The major objectives of the M&E efforts <br />are to: <br /> <br />1. Evaluate the effectiveness of salinity reduction practices and <br />quantify salt load reduction accomplishments by project; <br /> <br />2. Evaluate and quantify the environmental effects on fish and wildlife <br />habitat values; and, <br /> <br />3. Measure the onfarm economic aspects of implementing irrigation water <br />management and salinity reduction practices. <br /> <br />SCS established a CRSC monitoring and evaluation team in 1987 to reassess <br />earlier M&E plans, to make appropriate adjustments in existing M&E efforts, <br />and to develop and initiate new M&E plans for those salinity control projects <br />scheduled for early implementation under the new CRSC program. <br /> <br />12 <br />