WSP01139

• File Number: 8272.100.60
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1996
• Author: CRBSCF
• Title: 1996 Review - Water Quality Standards for Salinity - Colorado River System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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CA

In 1984, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act was amended by PL. 98-569 to
authorize two additional units for construction by Reclamation. The amendments directed the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to give preference to the salinity COntrol
units with the least cost per unit of salinity reduction. The Act was also amended to establish a
voluntary on-farm salinity control program to be implemented by the Department of Agriculture
and provided for voluntary replacement of incidental fish and wildlife values foregone on account
of the on-farm measures. Many cost-effective salt-load reducing activities have been
accomplished in the decade following that authorization. P.L. 98-569 also authorized the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) to implement salinity controls.

In 1994, Reclamation concluded that the existing Act, as amended, with its unit-specific
approach and authorization ceiling, was limiting salinity control opportunities. In 1995, the
Salinity Control Act was amended by P.L. 104-20 to authorize Reclamation to develop and
implement a basin-wide approach to salinity control. An additional $75 million of expenditures
by Reclamation were authorized by P.L. 104-20.

In April 1996, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (FAlRA) of 1996
(p.L. 104-127) further amended the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) role in salinity
control by creating a new conservation program known as the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) which combines four existing USDA conservation programs including the
Colorado River Salinity Control Program. FAlRA, for the most part, terminated previous
authorities and provided for mandatory funding in the amount of $200 million per year through
2002. USDA must promptly create rules and regulations concerning how EQIP funds can be
spent. The past authority for the states to cost-share from the Basin funds is retained in the new
EQIP program with linkage to the Bureau of Reclamation's authorities to distribute Basin funds
for cost-sharing. The new language added to the Salinity Control Act by FAlRA is as follows:

SECTION 355. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

SECTION 355 (c) Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (43 U.S. C. ~1592) is amended

(1) in section 202 by striking subsection (c) and insening "(c) The Secretary of
Agriculture is directed to implement salinity control measures in the Colorado River Basin
as an element of the Environmental Ql<<llity Incentives Program authorized by the
"Agricultural Reform and Improvement Act of 1996. "

(2) in section 205 by striking "pursl<<lnt to section 202(c) (2)(c) " in subsection (a)
and by adding at the end the following new subsection "9(f) The Secretary may expend
fUnds available in the basin funds to cost share salinity measures consistent with the cost
allocations in section 205. "

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