WSP01995

• File Number: 8272.300.50
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1998
• Author: USDA
• Title: Colorado River Salinity Control Program - Federal Accomplishments Report for Fiscal Year 1998
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

o
CD
(j)
00

Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit and the Hammond Project. In 1998, work continued on plans
accepted i~ 1997 to plug leaking wells, eliminate seepage from the Ashley Sewage Lagoons, and
improve laterals in Duchesne County. Reclamation also held another public Request for
Proposals and receive a record number of responses (17). Eleven of the proposals were accepted
for further; negotiations. The Uncompahgre Demonstration project was ready for implementation
and was funded for construction during the 1998-99 construction winter season. Other projects
are going through various performance and environmental reviews (NEPA compliance).

The cost effectiveness of the proposals ranged between $20 and $35 per ton. Appropriations
totaled $7.6 million in FY -98. With basin states cost sharing, the total amount available for
constructiQn was $10.9 million. These funds were fully obligated in FY-98. For FY-99, the
budget request was $12 million ($17 million with cost sharing).

Progress toward Reclamation's Salinity Control Targets

The plan of implementation within the Triennial Review of the Water Quality Standards set a
target of 25,000 tons of new controls each year for the entire Salinity Program (BR, USDA, and
BLM). The supplement to the Triennial Review suggested an even more aggressive approach
should be taken. Reclamation adopted an aggressive target for the agency of 25,000 tons.

In FY-96, the total funds available for salinity control were $500,000 yielding 1,600 tons of new
controls at-the program's average cost of $25/ton. This fiscal year was the first year of funding
for the new program. It was also a ramp up year for funding. This level of funding created a
shortfall of 23,400 tons that will be made up in future years.

In FY-97, the total funds available for salinity control were $5,000,000 yielding 16,000 tons of
new salinity control. This was also a ramp up year for funding. The cumulative shortfall was
32,400 tonS and will be made up in future years as funding increases to target levels ($12m in
appropriations) .

In FY-98, the total funds available for salinity control were $10,800,000 yielding 34,560 tons of
new salinity control. Funding for the program continued to ramp up. The cumulative shortfall of
22,840 tons will be made up in future years.

In FY-99, the total funds available for Basinwide Salinity Control are $17,143,000 yielding
54,860 tons of new salinity control. There is a cumulative surplus of 6,720 tons to be used in
future years if cost/ton rates increase as the program exhausts the least-cost projects.

.
,
'I;
j

~

23

!
j
.,
>i
,'1
,
j
~j
1
,I
':,1
.
;'j
,
!
'~l
~
.1
l