WSP00392

• File Number: 8276.150
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 4/1/1992
• Title: 1991 Annual Report: Grand Valley Salinity Control Project Monitoring and Evaluation Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

l~
r-
~
~

1--,
~'

MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM
1991 ANNUAL REPORT

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Overview

This report has been prepared as an annual status report to present
the results of the 1991 monitoring and evaluation activities in
various disciplines. Annual reports have been prepared and
presented since 1985. These annual reports provide information on
databases collected since the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
Program began in 1984. This program is implemented under the
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-
320) and as amended by P.L. 98-569. The Act was established to
enhance and protect quality of water in the Colorado River through
salinity control. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grand
Valley Salinity Program (GVSP) began in 1979 under ongoing USDA
programs. Funds for implementation came from Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Agricultural
Conservation Program (ACP). In 1987, implementation began of the
USDA Colorado River Salinity Control (CRSC) Program as authorized
by P.L. 98-569.

The monitoring program was designed to evaluate the impacts of
salinity practices due to the USDA Salinity Control Programs in the
Grand Valley Project Area (Figure 1). The effects of irrigation
practices on salt load reduction, economics, wildlife habitat and
soil salinity levels have been evaluated annually on selected
fields as outlined in the 1983 USDA Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
Monitoring will be continued for several years to determine the
long-term impacts of improved salinity practices.

The 1983 USDA Monitoring and Evaluation Plan has been replaced with
the "Framework Plan for Monitoring and Evaluating the Colorado
River Salinity Control Program" published on June 23, 1991. This
document outlines the scope, methodology, and report format to be
followed by all salinity project offices. In the Grand Valley
project area this framework plan will be followed without
disrupting current program format which has been implemented for
more than seven years.

2. project Location

The Grand Valley Project Area is located along the Colorado River
in West Mesa County in West Central Colorado (Figure 1) near the
Colorado-Utah State line. communities located in the Grand Valley
area are - Grand Junction, Palisade and Clifton to the east;
Fruita, Loma and Mack on the west end.

1