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<br />~tu <br /> <br />The SCS/USBR Technical Policy Coordination Committee developed a joint <br />"Monitoring and Evaluation Interim Guide" for use by State, project, and field <br />personnel as a technical reference in the development of project M&E plans. <br /> <br />The current legislation and existing authorities are sufficient for monitoring <br />and, evaluation of the CRSC program. <br /> <br />Research, Demonstration, and Education <br /> <br />Research and demonstration activities are carried out by the ARS and CSRS <br />through the land grant colle~es and State agricultural experiment stations. <br />While research and demonstrations are specifically authorized by amendments to <br />the Act, the existing ARS and CSRS research activities also serve needs of the <br />CRSC program. <br /> <br />The ARS research activities include development of soil salinity monitoring <br />instruments (California), reuse and disposal of saline irrigation drainage <br />waters on salt tolerant crops (California), computerization of canal delivery <br />systems and canal flow control schemes (Arizona), level basin systems <br />(Colorado, Arizona), cable-gation irrigation systems (Utah, Idaho), and the <br />use of remote sensing to determine "real time" crop coefficients for more <br />effective irrigation scheduling (Arizona). <br /> <br />Salinity research studies conducted through the State universities include the <br />reuse of waste-waters at a coal-fired power plant in Utah and irrigation <br />drainage studies in the Lower Colorado and Gila River Valleys in Arizona. <br /> <br />Extension education and information responsibilities have been assigned to the <br />ES and are provided through the Cooperative Extension Service (CBS) at the <br />State level. In the early years of the Grand Valley and Unita Basin salinity <br />control projects, the State CES provided support and assistance through <br />existing staffs and limited State-level funding. <br /> <br />For Grand Valley, an irrigation water management ex~ension specialist was <br />funded through a cooperative agreement with USBR. the specialist worked with <br />USBR personnel and local irrigators to coordinate planning activities for <br />USBR's off-farm canal and lateral improvement program in Grand Valley. <br /> <br />With the new CRSC program and funding for extension education activities, <br />ES State offices are becoming more actively involved in local salinity control <br />coordinating committees and in educational activities such as producing <br />newsletters and providing tours at project levels. USDA believes extension <br />education needs of the CRSC program can be adequately addressed with current <br />legislative authority. <br /> <br />13 <br />