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W "l c.c P-'> McElmo Creek Unit Big Sandy River Unit The Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency were directed to cooperate and coordinate their activities to meet the program objectives. Public Law 98-569 was signed into law on October 30, 1984, and amends Public Law 93-320. This law modifies the original salinity control program by authorizing construction of additional units and by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a maj or voluntary onfarm cooperative salinity control program. Crystal Geyser was de-authorized by this law because of poor cost effectiveness. The passage of Public Law 98-569 provides a separate authority for implementing the basinwide USDA Colorado River Salinity Control (CRSC) program with funds appropriated each year for this program since FY 1987. Prior to 1987, existing program authorities and funding under the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP) were used to carry out onfarm activities in the Grand Valley, Colorado, and the Uinta Basin, Utah. Those activities are described in earlier reports. BLM is involved in studies of nonpoint sources from public domain lands in the basin. BLM's activities include watershed improvements and practices and plugging of flowing saline wells. It should be recognized that some of the salinity control units now in the implementation plan may not prove to be cost-effective or implementable, and other projects and/or salinity control measures will have to be substituted in order to maintain the numeric criteria while the Basin states continue to develop their Compact-apportioned waters. At present there are more salinity control measures identified than have been included .n the recommended plan to meet the salinity objectives for the river, thus providing the flexibility to meet changing conditions. The 'onfarm salinity control measures being planned and implemented by the USDA are among the most cost-effective measures for salinity reduction. The Forum is encouraging implementation of these measures as rapidly as possible. Congress directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary and cooperative program to reduce salinity in the Colorado River. The "!Ithorizing legislation provides for cost- sharing and technical assistance to land users to plan and install needed salinity reduction practices, including replacement ,,-to incidental fish and wildlife values foregone. Land owners volunteer to participate in the program and pay at least 30 percent of the costs to install salinity reduction and wildlife habitat practices. 27 'Ji