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<br />B-259297 <br /> <br />W <br />'-n <br />CJI <br />.;;.. <br /> <br />using a strong, thin plastic membrane rather than concrete to line canals <br />or laterals). The 80R coordinator believes that as the BUl"ea!l has gllined <br />experience in salinity control over the years, it has gotten better at <br />identifying and implementing more cost-effective methodS for projects. <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Although the cost-effectiveness of USDA'S projects also varies, the variance <br />is not as much as for BOR'S projects. Overall,' USDA's projects tend ~cost <br />less per ton of salt controlled than BOR projects, mostly because th'ey ate <br />smaller, simpler projects_ Table 6 shows the cost-effectiveness of USDA'S <br />salinity control projects. <br /> <br /> <br />Table 6: Cost-Effectiveness of USDA's Salinity Control Projects <br /> <br /> Actual amount of <br /> sslt controlled Potential amount of Projected total <br /> through flscai year sait controlled cost (dollars In Cost-effectiveness <br />Project 1994 (tons/year) (tons/year) millions) (dollarslton) Ii' <br />Grand Valley <br />(Colorado) 63,074 132.000 $63 $38 <br />Uintah Basin <br />(Utah) 77,549 106,800 60 45 <br />Big Sandy <br />(Wyoming) 22,313 52,900 19 29 <br />Lower Gunnison <br />(Colorado) 18.878 166,000 145 70 <br />Me Elmo Creek <br />(Colorado) 9.419 46,000 30 51 <br /> Note: Because O&M costs are borne by the participants in a project rather than by USDA, they <br /> are excluded from this table, <br /> <br /> <br />Source: USDA. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />In addition to cost-effectiveness, program managers also consider factors <br />such as the available methods' acceptability to users, legality, and <br />potential effect on wildlife. Consideration of these factors, aside from or in <br />addition to cost-effectiveness, can lead to a method's rejection, according <br />to program managers. For example, retiring land from agricultural use has <br />generally been considered an unacceptable method of controlling salinity, <br />primarily because of its adverse effect on the local economy. Additionally, <br />in terms of cost-effectiveness, retiring land generally fares poorly <br />compared to other methods. <br /> <br /> <br />Page 13 <br /> <br />GAOIRCED~9G-58 Salinity Control Projects in the Colorado River Basin <br /> <br />