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

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Fish and Wildlife Service
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 1998

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The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) attended numerous Work Group and Forum meetings
throughout the year. In addition the Service continues to work with Basin States and cooperatmg
Federal agencies towards implementation of salinity reduction practices, thereby improving
water quality and benefitting aquatic and terrestrial natural resources throughout the Colorado
River Basin.

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Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and
the Endangered Species Act the Service continues to provide comments and recommendations
regarding potential impacts to fish and wildlife resources on specific projects and programs. The
Service al$o continues to emphasize the importance of wetlands protection and restoration, as
well as concurrent and proportionate mitigation of all fish and wildlife losses. The protection of
endangere~ species and their critical habitats also remains a high priority throughout the
Colorado ~iver Basin. Due to reduced funding for planning of salinity control projects. Service
participation has been restricted to an as needed basis.

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Uncompatmre Demo Project: The Colorado Basin Salinity Control Program has selected the
Uncompaljgre Water Users Association's proposed Salinity Control/Selenium Remediation
Demonstr4tion Project for funding. This project will involve piping 7.5 miles of irrigation
laterals s01l1theast of M9ntrose, Colorado. The Uncompahgre Water Users Association will
construct the project with engineering and design assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation.
The projeqt will include extensive post project monitoring to document potential salt and
selenium rbductions downstream within critical habitats for Colorado River endangered fishes.
Because of their interest in selenium reductions in both the lower Gunnison and Grand valleys,
The Natio\tal Irrigation Water Quality Program is cost sharing the project by providing 44% of
the estima(ed$I.6 million project cost. Preconstruction activities are underway as well as early
mitigation iefforts to replace lost riparian and wetlands habitats associated with piping. The
Service is a cooperating agency.

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Salinity Mitigation: The habitat development and improvement plan for the Colorado River
Wildlife Area, a mitigation property near Grand Junction, Colorado, was recently completed.
This mitig*tion property, acquired by Reclamation and managed by the Mesa County Land
Conservan\:y, was acquired and subsequently enhanced to partially offset habitat losses
associated ,with salinity improvement activities within the Grand Valley Project area. The area's
habitat improvements are functioning well with good numbers of nesting upland birds and
waterfowL The area is also heavily used by migrating waterfowl (ducks and geese).

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The Service has reviewed the development and management plans for another mitigation
property, near Orchard Mesa ( i.e. the Griffith property). The Service has provided comments
and sugge$tions to enhance the property for both salinity reductions and to benefit endangered
fishes, however concerns regarding human encroachment remain. Because of its proximity to

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