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<br />2001 AnnsnRJ-'Cnu''\'cn REPORT <br /> <br />,:'> <br />,-, <br />IV <br />~il <br /> <br />After recent discussion between BlM representatives and the Forum's Work Group and after the <br />recent dialogue between the BlM representative and the Advisory Council, it has become apparent <br />that a full technical re\;ew of methodologies used by the BlM to predict salt contribution from these <br />lands it manages is needed The Advisory Council recommends that this occur with experts from <br />other federal agencies and with representatives from the Forum's Work Group being involved <br /> <br />The Council urges the BlM to investigate the opportunity for creating a ful1.tirne Salinity <br />Coordinator for the Colorado River Basin similar to the position created by the USDA. This position <br />could be used to coordinate BLM acti\.;ties within the Basin and to educate and assist field personnel <br />on how to identify and quantify salinity reducing activities The USDA has designated a full-time <br />Western Salinity Coordinator who is housed in Reclamation's offices in Salt lake City. The <br />coordination accomplished has been very helpful to the overall federal efforts For many years there <br />has been identified within the BlM budget $800,000 for focused salinity control efforts. There has <br />never been an accounting of how these funds have been expended. For about one-eighth of this total, <br />the USDA Salinity Coordinator position has been funded. The Council now requests that a small <br />portion of the $800,000 be used for the employment of a BLM Salinity Coordinator and that an <br />accounting to the Council now be made as to past use of these funds and that budgets be present as <br />to how these funds are planned to be used in the future. <br /> <br />The Council requests the BLM to seek funding for salt reduction projects administered either solely <br />by the BLM or in cooperation with state and other federal agencies. The Council asks for a response <br />to this request. <br /> <br />The Council continues to encourage the BlM to identify and plug flowing saline wells on public <br />lands and requests that the BlM continue to monitor and report these activities The Council also <br />recommends that when reporting salinity retention efforts in the future there be identified ancillary <br />benefits to both domestic stock and wildlife. The role of livestock \'s_ the impact ofwildhfe (deer, <br />elk, burros etc.) also needs to be examined <br /> <br />The Council requests a written report responding toall of the above recommendations herein by May <br />1.2002 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />COLORADO RJJF.R BASIX S.-tU.'7TY CO.\TROL ADI7S0RY COr...:VClL <br />