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Of eight candidate plans which were developed and evaluated for the SCS study--one, irrigation water management and on-farm ditch lining, maximum level--was recommended for implementation. The plan consists of a program for implementing irrigation water management and on-farm ditch lining at the maximum level on all irrigated land in the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit area except for designated watershed areas where the program is either not needed or would not be cost effective. The recommended plan would be implemented on about 169,000 acres. In addition, those off-farm laterals necessary for proper operation of on-farm system improvements would also be included. plan development would be staged beginning in Delta County where the salinity reduction would be most cost effective, and would be extended over a 10-year period. The effectiveness of the program would be evaluated at 5-year intervals to determine if improvements should be accelerated in other areas of the valley. Development of the first stage of the plan is expected to result in a l60,OOO-ton-per-year reduction in salt loading, or about a 45 percent reduction in total salt load delivered to the Colorado River from on-farm sources. If the entire recommended plan is implemented in the project area, it is estimated that a 370,000 ton-per-year reduction in salt loading, or about 84 percent reduction in the salt load delivered to the Colorado River from on-farm sources, could occur. Completion of the SCS report on the on-farm portion of the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit is projected for September 1981. Fish and Wildlife Service activities The Fish and Wildlife Service is cooperating in planning studies on the unit, and a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report has been prepared which evaluates project impacts and recommends fish and wildlife measures. List of Participants Agencies participating in the study include the Fish and wildlife Service, Geological Survey, Soil Conservation Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Department of Highways, Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Science and Information Service, Tri-River Area Extension Service, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado Department of Health. Also participa- ting are the Sierra Club, Delta Soil Conservation District, Western Colorado Health Systems Agency, Colorado-Ute Electric Association, Inc., District 10 Regional Planning Commission, and W. W. Wheeler and Associates. Many local farmers and ranchers have participated at the various public meetings. 000904 4