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<br />'" <br />w <br />,.::.. <br />00 <br /> <br />irrigation, more reliable and effective equipment for automatic surface <br />irrigation, and improved water ,management practices. ES is using funds <br />appropriated for extension to conduct demonstration, information, and <br />education programs. Extension specialists conduct water management workshops <br />and other educational programs for farmers, technicians, county agents, and <br />agriculture service and supply firm personnel. Extension specialists also <br />work with farmers in monitoring and evaluating crop production and irrigation <br />systems to fine-tune practices for greater economy and efficiency. The <br />Farmers Home Administration is providing loan assistance for landowner's <br />nonfederal share of improvements. <br /> <br />USDA, in cooperation wi th other agencies, has completed five ,salini ty control <br />studies and issued reports. These are for the Grand Valley and Lower Gunnison <br />units in Colorado, the Uinta Basin unit in Utah, the Big Sandy unit in I,yoming <br />and the Moapa Valley subevaluation unit of the Virgin River units in Nevada. <br />Studies in four additional irrigated units are nearing completion. These are' <br />the Price-San Rafael Rivers in Utah, the McElmo unit in Colorado, and two <br />additional Virgin River subevaluation units involving parts, of Nevada, Utah, <br />and Arizona. <br /> <br />Implementation started in Grand Valley in 1979 and the Uinta Basin in 1980. <br />The implementation programs were scheduled for completion within a la-year <br />period. Typical measures included in salinity control plans include <br />irrigation pipelines, land leveling, water measuring and control structures, <br />sprinkler systems, ditch lining, automation devices, changes in irrigation <br />methods, and irrigation water management. <br /> <br />The costs of implementing the recommended plans have been estimated. For <br />consistency and intercomparison between these plans and the Wellton-Mohawk <br />effort, a 75 percent cost-share rate has been assumed in all planning <br />studies. This upper limit was chosen to insure full'participation, and <br />because a large share of the salinity benefits are off-farm and downstream. <br />Extensive technical assistance, research, education, and demonstration are <br />required to make the program effective. The costs in 1982,dollars and a <br />schedule by units based on a la-year installation period follow as <br />Enclosure 1. Estimated costs over a 16-year period for the eight units shown <br />are $296.8 million for cost sharing; $4.6 million for education; $12.8 <br />million for research and demonstration; and $59.8 million for technical <br />assistance. The fiscal year outlays would peak at $50.4 million in FY 1987. <br /> <br />Benefits <br /> <br />Benefits related to water quantity, water quality and reduced salt loadings <br />are major factors in the onfarm salinity control projects. Completed reports <br />indicate onfarm irrigation efficiency improvements will range from 3 to <br />17 percent in the Grand Valley, Uinta Basin, Moapa Valley, and Lower Gunnison <br />salt source units. No recommended plan has been established for the <br /> <br />6 <br />