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. . 002~32 The Colorado River downstream from the Gunnison River provides habitat for endangered fish and birds. The Uncompahgre Project area is a major source of selenium to the Gunnison River; the effects of the selenium on the endan- gered fish and birds are not known. INTRODUCTION During the last several years, there has been increasing concern about the quality of irrigation drainage and its potential harmful effects on human health, fish, and wildlife. Concentrations of selenium greater than water- quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1987) have been detected in subsurface drainage from irrigated land in the western part of the San Joaquin Valley in California. In 1983, incidences of mortality, birth defects, and reproductive failures in waterfowl were discovered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge in the western San Joaquin Valley, where irrigation drainage was impounded. In addition, potentially toxic trace elements and pesticide residues have been detected in other areas in Western States that receive irrigation drainage. Because of concerns expressed by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOl) started a program in late 1985 to identify the nature and extent of irrigation-induced water-quality problems that might exist in the Western States. In October 1985, an interbureau group known as the "Task Group on Irrigation Drainage" was formed within the DOl. The Task Group subsequently prepared a comprehensive plan for reviewing irrigation-drainage concerns for which the DOl may have responsibility. The DOl developed a management strategy and the Task Group prepared a comprehensive plan for reviewing irrigation-drainage concerns. Initially, the Task Group identified 19 locations in 13 States that warranted reconnaissance- level field investigations. These locations relate to three specific areas of DOl responsibilities: (1) Irrigation or drainage facilities constructed or managed by the DOl, (2) national wildlife refuges managed by the DOl, and (3) other migratory-bird or endangered-species management areas that receive water from DOl-funded projects. Nine of the during 1986-87. 19 locations were selected for reconnaissance investigations The nine areas are: Utah: Wyoming: Lower Colorado-Gila River Valley area Salton Sea area Tulare Lake Bed area Sun River Reclamation Project area Milk River Reclamation Project area Stillwater Wildlife Management area Lower Rio Grande-Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge area Middle Green River basin area Kendrick Reclamation Project area Arizona-California: California: Montana: Nevada: Texas: 3