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<br />oo'n7S1 <br /> <br />1994 ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Department of Agriculture <br /> <br />The Department of Agriculture is also undergoing a significant reorganization. Prior to <br />its reorganization, the USDA had a two-pronged strategy for implementing the Program. The <br />Soil Conservation Service was responsible for the design and implementation, while the <br />Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service was responsible for the funding, participant <br />selection criteria, and contract administration. With the reorganization, these functions will be <br />combined under the new Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Council <br />supports this consolidation of function; hopefully it will provide a more cost-effective program. <br />The Council is concerned, however, that due to personnel reductions accompanying the <br />reorganization, the basin-wide coordinator position previously located in Denver will not be <br />continued. This position has been a critical element in coordinating and facilitating the <br />implementation of USDA's portion of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. The <br />Council strongly recommends that USDA consider assigning this overall coordination <br />responsibility to one of the Upper Colorado River Basin State offices. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Council appreciates the efforts of Dave Mason at the Washington Office level, but <br />is concerned that given his other duties, the USDA salinity effort will suffer. The Council has <br />already seen the impact of these changes in terms of the administrative support for continued <br />USDA funding for the program. The onfarm program has proved to be one of the most cost- <br />effective components of the basin-wide salinity program. The Council hopes this effectiveness <br />is not compromised by the lack of coordination and leadership. The USDA program continues <br />to receive significant support from farmers across the Basin. The Council believes this support <br />will begin to erode if adequate funding levels can not be maintained. The Council recommends <br />NRCS work closely with the Forum's Work Group to insure this important cost-effective <br />component of the overall salinity program is not jeopardized. The Council urges the NRCS to <br />diligently pursue adequate Colorado River Salinity Control line item funding to assure that <br />program implementation schedules are met. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />COWRADO RiVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL <br /> <br />5 <br />