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Big Santly River mSDA ): The Big Sandy River Unit is located in southwestern Wyoming. Below Big Sandy Reservoir, water is diverted to irrigate lands in the Eden Project. Irrigation seepage into shallow aquifers near the Big Sandy River is the source of saline seeps. These seeps and springs below the Eden Project contribute about 116,000 tons of salt, and tributaries contribute about 48,000 tons of salt annually to the Green River. w::- i-" I-'- <::) The USDA Big Sandy River Unit plan was published in 1988. The USDA salinity control program consists of converting 15,700 acres of on-farm surface irrigation to low-pressure sprinkler systems. When fully implemented, the on-farm program will reduce the salt loading by 52,900 tons/yr. As of September 30, 1995, 76 salinity contracts have been signed with participants. Also 12 fanners have submitted applications for salinity control contracts, but inadequate USDA funds allow the preparation and signature of contracts with only a limited number of these farmers each year. Seventy-six sprinkler systems have been installed on 6,626 acres, 3 surface systems have been improved on 56 acres and 28 miles of pipeline have been installed. As of September 30, 1995, an annual salt reduction 24,600 tons has been accomplished. Dolores Prqiect/McElmo Creek (Reclamation and USDA ): Irrigation and other non-point sources in the McElmo Creek area of southwestern Colorado result in an estimated salt load of 119,000 tons/yr to the Colorado River. Salinity control as an added feature of the Dolores Project, already under construction by Reclamation, was authorized by the 1984 amendment to the Salinity Control Act. Reclamation modified the design of Towaoc Canal to allow abandonment and consolidation of certain ditches and is in the process of lining other ditches and installing piped laterals to reduce salt loading from ditch seepage. These improvements, scheduled for completion in 1996, are expected to reduce salinity by 23,000 tons per year. The McElmo Creek Unit plan was described in the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) 1989 Environmental Impact Statement. The plan, updated in 1994, will remove 46,000 tons/yr of salt from the Colorado River. The plan will provide for the installation of sprinkler irrigation systems on 19,700 acres, including 268 miles of pipeline, and surface improvements to another 1,800 acres. As of September 30, 1995, a total of 192 contracts have been signed with participants. In addition, 185 farmers have submitted applications for salinity control contracts. These farmers are ready to implement salinity reduction measures, but only a limited number of contracts can be prepared and signed because of inadequate funding. Since the program was initiated, 102 miles of pipelines and 197 sprinkler systems on 3,847 acres have been installed. The salt load reduction accomplished to date is 11,000 tons/ yr. 4-5