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<br /> <br />APR 0 5 2002 <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE <br />UTAH FIELD OFFICE <br />n69 \\'EST ORTON CIRCLE, sum SO <br />v,rsrVAllEYCTTY,lITAH &4119 <br /> <br />111 klllrRtfaTo <br />FWSIR6 <br />ESIUT <br /> <br />April 3. 2002 <br /> <br />o <br />>- <br />--.J <br />o <br /> <br />Mr. Larry R. Dozier <br />Chairman. Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council <br />Central Arizona Water Conservation District <br />P.O. Box 43020 <br />Phoenix. Arizona 85080-3020 <br /> <br />Dear. Mr. Dozier: <br /> <br />Thank you for the recommendations recently received as pan afthe 2001 Annual Report on the <br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Annual Report). We have reviewed the Annual <br />Report and have the following comments. <br /> <br />We are pleased to report that NRCS has been receptive to suggestions that the Monitoring and <br />Evaluation reports could be improved to be more useful both for the Service and for NRCS <br />planning and project prioritization purposes. NRCS has taken the lead in soliciting suggestions <br />from their staff for improvements in content and organization. sharing those suggestions with the <br />Service, and requesting our input_ We appreciate and have been responsive to their coordination <br />efforts and have high expectations that together we can revise the reports to bener fulfill their <br />fimction. <br /> <br />The Service continues to work closely with both BOR and NRCS to evaluate ofT.fann and on. <br />farm impact assessment and mitigation a.pproaches. We have organized and participated in an <br />interagency field review of salinity control projects and implemented and proposed mitigation for <br />the Price.San Rafael Salinity Control Priority Area. A similar field review is scheduled for the <br />Uinta Basin at the end of April. The purpose of these reviews and discussions is to develop a <br />consistent and mutually satisfactory approach to off-farm and on-farm mitigation that complies <br />,\ith program constraints, particularly the EQIP program. A consistent approach will help <br />expedite development and evaluation of salinity control proposals while ensuring that mitigation <br />priorities are met. <br /> <br />In coordination \\ith BOR. NRCS. the Utah Dh;,sion of Wildlife Resources, and salinity control <br />project panners, we continue to develop and evaluate concepts to accomplish mitigation at larger, <br />more manageable sites rather than at a scanering of small sites where changes in land use or <br />o\\llership make them vulnerable to loss of mitigation value. Part of the purpose of the field <br />reviews is to identify potential sites and discuss how BOR and NRCS programs can be <br /> <br />a <br />