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<br />I-" <br />~,J <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />Federal agencies have the staff'resources, technical expertise, knowledge <br />of lands under their administration, and legislative authority to implement a <br />water qual ity management program within the framework of their 1 and use <br />planning. Action programs are in place that include water quality mangement <br />as part of a 1 arger tota 1 resource management program for federal range 1 ands <br />and commitment is strong to carry out the program. Where indicated, water <br />quality monitoring has been initi ated in the overall watershed management <br />program. Additional components can be added as funding becomes available. <br />Furthermore, the Clean Water Act Section 313(a) requires that all actions on <br />federal lands meet the substantive and procedural water pollution control and <br />abatement: requirements of the state in the same manner and to the same extent <br />as nongovernmental entities. Consultation and coordination among all agenCies <br />and individuals is vital to a successful water quality management program for <br />rangel ands. <br /> <br />6. Technical and financial assistance <br /> <br />Nonpoint implementation programs in all states in Region VIII are heavily <br />dependent on limited federal cost-share and technical assistance programs. <br />These generally relate to cost-share funds from the Agricultural Conservation <br />Program (ACP), Rural Clean Water Program (RCWP) and Great Plains Conservation <br />Program (GPCP). But federal aid to these programs is being reduced or <br />eliminated. Identified needs far exceed available resources and state funding <br />sources shou 1 d be encouraged. <br /> <br />Federal agencies are expected to finance remedial measures to correct <br />water quality problems originating on federal rangelands. Generally these <br />bes t management pract ices woul d be part of an a 11 otment management pl an <br />developed in consultation with the range user following preparation of a <br />grazing environmental statement and a land use plan. Funding for specific <br />items is included in the annual budget submitted for the administrative unit. <br /> <br />Section 304(k) of the Clean Water Act authorizes funding to implement <br />priority w~ter pollution control projects on federal lands consistent with <br />state water qual ity management pl ans. To date no funds have been appropri ated <br />under this authority. <br /> <br />The private land owner is reluctant to finance a practice for his land <br />that is not economically feasible. If public values are involved, cooperative <br />programs will be necessary. Technical assistance on private lands is <br />available through the Soil Conservation Service, and txtension Services can <br />provide information on grazing management through the Extension Range <br />Management Specialist in each state. <br /> <br /> <br />- 17 - <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />,,~', .', <br /> <br />~. CC,",,, . .""'11 <br />