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<br />I'\J <br />(..,) <br />CJl <br />-.J <br /> <br />As a result of these onfarm and related lateral improvements, there has been <br />an estimated reduction of 1,100 acre-feet of seepage and deep percolation <br />during 1981. This annual reduction of deep percolation translates into an <br />estimated reduction of 5,500 tons of salt or 0.57 mg/l of salinity <br />concentration at Imperial Dam. Total benefits in the Grand Valley project <br />to date are 2,690 ,acre-feet reduction of deep percolation and 13,500 tons of <br />salt reduced or a 1.41 mg/l salinity concentration reduction at Imperial Dam. <br /> <br />The first year monitoring report of onfarm irrigation improvements was <br />completed by Colorado state University under contract with ARS and in <br />cooperation with SCS. The report, entitled 'Monitoring and Evaluation of <br />On-Farm Irrigation Improvements in the Grand valley Salinity Control <br />Project,' is available from both SCS and ARS. The'major findings concluded <br />that the automatic timers were generating problems in the automated systems, <br />but that there was substantial reductions in deep percolation of irrigation <br />waters. A second year report is now in the review draft stages and should be <br />released soon. <br /> <br />Title II - Uinta Basin, Utah <br /> <br />The uinta Basin salinity control project, initiated in 1980, is the second, <br />and only other Title, II implementation project. Funding for the Uinta Basin <br />project is also through the'ASCS ACP and the scs conservation operations <br />technical assistance program. <br /> <br />Major 1980-81 planning activities related to the Uinta project inc.l.llde (1) an <br />addendum to initial USDA Salinity Control Report; (2) the development of an <br />environmental impact statement (EIS) supplement to the USBR/USDA original <br />EIS; and (3) a USDA irrigation lateral study. The addendum to the USDA <br />report updated the routing procedures for salinity impacts and adjusted the <br />cost and benefit base figures. The EIS supplement has completed the review <br />process and is ready for final publication. The Uinta lateral study has been <br />essentially completed, however, final disposition of a separate report,has <br />not yet been determined. <br /> <br />An increased SCS staffing level for providing technical assistance,has been <br />maintained at 15 for the vernal and Roosevelt field office. However, 'the <br />2-year U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IPA biologist position expired and was <br />terminated in October 1981. This unique staff arrangement proved to be <br />beneficial to both agencies and their technical program staffs for wildlife <br />mitigation planning and implementation activities. <br /> <br />When the Uinta project was initiated, it was determined that a special <br />concentration or focusing of technical assistance to target areas in the <br />project would be most effective. Also, the use of long~term agreements <br />(LTA's) was chosen,as the major approach for total onfarm water management <br />and salinity control planning. The use of LTA'S and the target area approach <br />have been very successful in providing high visibility for the salinity <br />control projects, for establishing a more long-term farmer commitment, <br />and in obligating a high percentage of available funds. <br /> <br />15 <br />