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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br />C> <br />~.... <br />co <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />salinity damages may be relatively higher in the Imperial area, leading <br /> <br />to an overestimate of damages in the USBR-Sun estimate. <br /> <br />Young, et al., suggest that "... the EPA study would be thought to <br /> <br />lead to some bias in the direction of an overstatement of direct economic <br /> <br />damages." Thus, it seems evident that there is a lack of a completely <br /> <br />reliable estimate of anticipated agricultural damages from rising salin- <br /> <br />ity. It is clear, however, that these estimates are substantial. <br /> <br />Efforts are now underway to upgrade the estimates of damages. A <br /> <br />project entitled "Salinity Management Options for the Colorado River" <br /> <br />is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 1975. This project is supported <br /> <br />by the Office of Water Research and Technology, U. S. Department of <br /> <br />Interior, and by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. On the agricultural <br /> <br />damages, an effort is being made to account for local soils differences, <br /> <br />management adaptations, and crop alternatives. This should lead to <br /> <br />more reliable yet conservative estimates of the economic impact of <br /> <br />salinity on agriculture. <br /> <br />Municipal Damages or Cost Increases. Many estimates of municipal <br /> <br />damages have been made. <br /> <br />Various assumptions have been made as to <br /> <br />the items affected and the nature of the reactions. The actions taken <br /> <br />could range from developing new, higher quality water supplies to <br /> <br />building central water softening plants or to doing nothing so that the <br /> <br />residents would consume more soap and detergents or purchase home <br /> <br />softening units or replace water facilities and appliances more frequently. <br /> <br />27 <br /> <br />,. <br /> <br />::l.;<__ <br />