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<br />J002 ADVlSORY COUNCIL RErORT <br /> <br />C> <br />~ <br />(.II <br />'-I <br /> <br />will pro\ide substantial benefits to Basin water users in the United States and Mexico. It is <br />imperative that the USDA allocates an appropriate share of the increased EQlP funds totheColorado <br />River Basin salinity control program. Accordingly, it is imperative that the Bureau of Reclamation <br />request Congressional appropriations sufficient to keep Reclamation's portion of the plan on track <br />with the USDA portion. <br /> <br />Salinity control etTons in the past have focused on irrigation agriculture, however, the amount of <br />rangeland in the Upper Colorado River drainage far exceeds the acreage under irrigation. The <br />Council believes rangeland management to accomplish salinity loading reductions has tremendous <br />potential to improve the program's overall cost-effectiveness and, therefore, the Council feels that <br />significant attention must be paid to reducing salinity contributions from this source. The Council <br />urges the BLM and the USDA to work with the Forum's Work Group to aggressively pursue <br />additional rangeland salinity control practices. <br /> <br />The Council is concerned with the impact reducing the salinity concentration of Colorado River <br />water in the Lower Basin has on the ability of the United States to meet the salinity differential <br />required under Minute 242. The Council urges that Reclamation work with the States to develop <br />a strategy that will enable additional reductions in Lower Basin water salinity concentrations to <br />continue while not exacerbating the difficulty of maintaining the salinity differential. <br /> <br />u.s. Department of Agriculture (USDA) <br /> <br />The Council appreciates the funds that the USDA's EQlP has made available for salinity control, <br />particularly in light of the high level of competition for that funding. The Council is now concerned. <br />given the amount of increased funding, contract administration might become a limiting factor. The <br />Council urges that the USDA investigate the opportunity to contract with groups of producers thus <br />eliminating the need for several contracts in the same geographic area. In addition to reducing the <br />number of contract awards, the Council also recommends that the USDA retain third-party vendors <br />to provide the needed technical assistance. <br /> <br />The Council urges the USDA to continue to require a 70% cost share from the local producers or <br />groups of producen; and not move to a 50% cost share for the Colorado River Basin. The Council <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALIlwn' COI't7ROL AD V1SORr COUNCn. <br /> <br />- <br />- <br />