WSP00515

• File Number: 8271.200.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - Development and History - Ann Rpts-Reviews
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1982
• Title: 1982 USDA Annual Report - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

r\,.,
o
w
o

.

.

IV. ' USDA TITLE II ACTIVITIES

Title II actiVities include a broad range of USDA agencies inputs into the
planning and implementation of an agricultural onfarm salinity control program.

Specific, language in Title II of Public Law 93-320, the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Act, directed the Secret'1-ry of Interior, the Administrator of
the EPA, and the Secretary of Agriculture to "cooperate and coordinate their
activities effectively to carry out the objectives of this title". In
fulfillment of the legislative directive, the Secretary of Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in
November, 1974. A subsequent Memorandum of Agreement has been executed
between the BR and the SCS, and, in addition, an internal USDA Memorandum of
Agreement between various USDA agencies has been executed. The various
activities and accomplishments of the USDA agencies are further explained in
the remainder of this section. The major ,program areas addressed by the USDA
agencies are: 1) irrigation 'salt source area studies (SCS); 2) implementation
technical assistance (SCS); 3) implementation cost-sharing (ASCS);
4) extension eduction (ES); 5) research and demonstration (ARS, CSRS); and
6) monitoring and evaluation (SCS).

A. Irrigation Salt Source Area Studies

This activity is a planning function under, leadership of SCS. The objectives
of these studies are: 1) to identify salt, source areas; 2) to determine salt
loading estimates; 3) to evaluate treatment alternatives and salt load
reduction impacts; and 4) to develop recommended implementation plans 'and
associated implementation costs. These detailed salinity control studies and
investigations are being funded using river baSin study authorities of
Section 6 of Public Law 83-566. Full coordinstion is maintained with the BR,
the EPA, and interested State and local agencies or organizations through
various coordinating committees at the local project level.

Table IV-l presents the current status of the 17 identified irrigation salt
source area studies. It is noted that the 'Virgin Valley and McElmo Creek
studies were both completed in 1982; however, McElmo Creek was not published
until February 1983. With publication of the Virgin Valley and McElmo Creek
reports, USDA has completed seven salinity;control studies on over 500,000
acres. If fully funded and implemented, these seven salinity control projects
would reduce Colorado River salt loading by nearly 750,000 tons per year which
translates into a reduction in salinity co~centrations at Imperial Dam of
82.9 mg/l.

Salinity control planning activities for FY-83 will be somewhat minimal with
only modest planning activities underway in the Price-San Rafael (UT) and the
scheduled completion of Mancos Valley (CO),' USDA anticipates adequate funding
to resume a more intensive planning effort in FY-84. Other salt source areas
with no anticipated study activities at this time either lack significant
salinity control benefits or local support to initiate a planning study.

B. Implementation Technical Assistance and, Cost-Sharing

In Public Law 93-32,0, the Secretary of AgriCulture was directed "to cooperate
in the planning and construction of onfarmsystem measures under programs
available to that Department". Present USDA implementation projects are being
carried out under authority of the existingSCS conservation technical
assistance program and the ASCS Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP)
cost-sharing authorities.

12