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..... 00 -.J .... Changes in BLM's salinity program personnel The Bureau of Land Manage- ment (BLM) National Head- quarters, Assistant Director, Land and Renewable Resources, is responsible for the BLM's policy and program development for Colorado River Salinity Control (CRSC) activities. Ron Clark has recently joined the Branch of Soil, Water, and Air to serve as BLM's CRSC coordinator. In this rol~, he will coordinate with the Advisory Council and Forum on the BLM policy and program matters relat- ing to implementation of salinity control techniques. The BLM Service Center, Division of Resouces, Denver, Colorado, will be responsible for technology development and transfer relating to the salinity con- trol activities. Dan Muller, Chief, Branch of Physical Resources, will be coordinating these efforts, in addition to representing the BLM at the technical work group meetings. The Colorado State Director formerly coordinated the BLM's CRSC program. Steve Vandas, Hydrologist, performed the task of coordinating the BLM salinity control program. Steve will con- tinue to coordinate the salinity control activities within the State of Colorado, and, thus, his excel- lent background and expertise in salinity matters will not be lost. USGS publishes reports The Geological Survey's (USGS) water Resources Division provides and analyzes hydrologic informa- tion to assess the Nation's water resourc Division scientists recently completed a major study of salinity in the Colorado River sys- tem. Results of this research in- clude a statistical analysis of streamflow and dissolved solids data for all gaging stations in the Upper Colorado River Basin with more than 5 years of record. Sig- nificant long-term trends in dis- solved solids concentration and salt load were found associated with reservoir development, min- ing, salinity control, and changing irrigation practices. The reports containing the results of this research are: Mueller, D.K., and Osen, L.L., Estimation of natural dissolved-solids discharge in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Water- Resources Investigations Report 87-4069, Mueller, D.K., and Liebermann, T.D., Extension of streamflow and dis- solved-solids records at selected sites in the Colorado River basin, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming: U.s. Geological Survey Water- . Resources Investigations Report 87-4203. 2 Estimating Economic Impacts The research study to update the economic impacts of salinity in the Colorado River was com- pleted and the report published in February 1988. The report, - Estimating Economic Impacts of Salinity of the Colorado River reported salinity damages from the Colorado River at approxi- mately $310.8 million annually based on the 1976-85 average level of river salinity and the 500 mg/L selected baseline value. Price-San Rafael Reclamation's Plan Formulation Working Document was completed and the newly fOIDm- lated joint plan with the Soil Con- servation Service, Department of Agriculture, will remove about 70,800 tons of salt from the river system. The cost effectiveness of the combined plan is projected to be about $55 per ton of salt removed. Work by both agencies has started on the joint planning report and environmental statement.