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<br />., eo!ft~.!, <br /> <br />The nonpoint source program in Colorado is explained in two documents prepared by <br />CDOH: "Colorado Non Point Assessment Report, November, 1989; and "Nonpoint source <br />Management Program", October, 1990. The Assessment Report identified specific stream <br />segments impacted by nonpoint pollution from agricultural activities. Throughout the State <br />over 500 stream miles were considered severely impacted, and over 2,000 miles experienced <br />some impact. The main pollutants were sediment, salinity, and nutrients (nitrates and <br />phosphorous), With some small critical segments effected by toxics (selenium, herbicides, and <br />pesticides). See Table 2. It is important to note that irrigated agriculture alone is not <br />responsible for all of this impact, since the agricultural category also included dryland crop <br />production, grazing, and feed lot operations. <br /> <br />To control agricultural pollution the Management Program proposes a multi-agency <br />approach with a combination of demonstration projects and educational programs. <br />DemonStration projects will be targeted at priority watersheds with the worst pollution to <br />illustrate effective control strategies. These strategies involve use of Best Management <br />Practices (BMP's) defined as: "the most effective, practicable means of preventing or <br />reducing the amount of pollution generated by non-point sources to a level cOinpatible with <br />water/stream quality goals". Program, pg. 42. BMP's for irrigated areas may be structural <br />such as: canal repair and lining, land leveling, sprinkler installation, and tail water <br />recovery; or non-structural such as: better scheduling of irrigation water, fertilizer budgets, <br />and improved cropping and tillage methods. <br /> <br />Obviously, the nonpoint source control efforts are very similar to the federal salinity <br />program since both seek to keep pollutants from agricultural lands out of the surface and <br />groundwater systems. Uke the salinity program, the improvements being undertaken are <br />designed to reduce return flows and can yield saved and/or salvaged water. The nonpoint <br />program already has BMP demonstration projects underway in the San Luis and Arkansas _ <br />basins. Funds and technical assistance have been provided by EPA and USDA In <br />addition certain water user entities such as the Central and the Northern Colorado Water <br />Conservancy Districts have begun their own studies to identify nonpoint problems and <br /> <br />15 <br />