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u-1 "'! c.o -'i Implementation of the USDA program continued through FY 89 with both CRSC and carry-over special ACP salinity funds. All ACP funds have now been used and all future activities ,: will be implemented with CRSC funds which became available in 1987. As of September 30, 1989, 186 CRSC contracts have been signed with participants obligating over $3.0 million. Since the salinity program was initiated in 1980, over 403 miles of buried pipeline and 46 miles of concrete lined ditches have been installed and nearly 1,800 acres of land leveled. With major emphasis on the conversion to sprinklers, 600 sprinkler systems have been installed on 5,000 acres. Approximately 178 surface systems have been improved on 12,400 acres. Irrigation water management is being applied on 47,000 acres. The total salt load reduction achieved through 1989 is 36,400 tons per year. Program participants are installing a variety of wildlife habitat practices including ponds, shallow water areas, wildlife habi tat plantings and fencing for management. For FY 90, 60 percent of the applications for salinity contracts include wildlife practices. Wetland and upland habitat management achieved under the salinity control program now totals 4,780 acres. An SCS wildlife biologist is located in the Uinta Basin and provides full- time assistance to the vOluntary wildlife habitat replacement program. Moni toring and evaluation activities indicate that the average irrigation efficiency being achieved is 65 percent. Prior to initiation of the onfarili ~roJram, the irrigation efficiencies were about 34 percent. A full-time Cooperative Extension Service Agent is located in the Uinta Basin and carries out a variety of information and education activities. Lr,wer Gunnison Basin (Reclamation and USDA). '])l:)e Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, ill ":!'o Uncompp.hgre Valley in west-central Colorado, is principally agricultural and agribusiness is of primary importance to the local economy. An estimated 360,000 tons of salt are picked up in the study area annually and conveyed to the Uncompahgre, Gunnison, and finally, the Colorado River. The salt pickup is a result of deep percolation of applied irrigation water and conveyance system seepage as water passes through the weathered and fractured shale of the Mancos Formation on its way to drains and the Uncompahgre River. The implementation plan includes only the Winter Water por+~on of the Unit which will remove winter flows from canal systems and replac them with a rural domestic water distribution, system, reducing the salt load by 74,000 tons per year. Under the proposed construction process, Reclamation will fund the Uncompahgre Valley Water User~ :..3sociation to construct the on-farm fa,ci+i ties. The Tri-County, Menoken, and Chipeta Water Companies will -be funded to construct the off-farm distribution facilities. 33