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l-" W CJ1 W powerplant steam for desalination. The G1enwood Springs brine, once collected, would be concentrated by flash evaporators into salt blocks, The saIt would then be marketed by the developer. The evaporated water would be condensed and either sold or returned to the river. Funding for the study is being shared between the developer and Reclamation, with each party paying their own expenses. The developer will submit a plan to Reclamation early in fiscal year 1991. Reclamation will then prepare an environmental assessment ofthe impacts of the cogeneration plant. Grand Valley, Colorado Reclamation Construction of the Grand Valley west end laterals was well underway in 1990. A construction contract for 17 miles of piped laterals was awarded in the fall of 1988 and completed in 1989. Contracts for the installation of an additional 14,2 miles of piped laterals will continue into 1991. Beginning in May 1988, Reclamation began purchasing land to replace habitat lost by the canal and lateral lining program. Reclamation purchased 545 acres of bottom lands along the Colorado River near Fruita, Colorado. Thisland and additional land from the BLM will be improved and managed for Reclamation by contract with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. In 1990, more than 1,000 acres of habitat are in development as wildlife habitat replacement. USDA During the year, 31 CRSC contracts were signed with participants. As of September 3D, 1990, a total of 149 CRSC contracts are in effect. All CRSC funds were obligated during the year with many plans prepared and awaiting funding in fiscal year 1991. Interest in the program among individuals remains strong, with many applications on file. The installation of salinity reduction practices continues at an accelerated pace, During the year, 32 miles of pipeline and concrete-lined 12 ditches were installed. As of September 3D, 1990,367 miles of underground pipelines, gated pipe, and concrete ditch lining have been installed. In addition, 3,984 acres ofland have been leveled and other salinity reduction practices installed, such as surge and cablegation systems to improve 102 surface irrigation systems. Technical assistance is being provided to participants on irrigation water management. The annual salt load reduction achieved as of September 30, 1990, is 39,100 tons. Increased emphasis is being placed on the replacement of wildlife values. In fiscal year 1990, 20 percent of the new participants volunteered to include upland and wetland habitat improvement practices in their contracts. Practices include ponds, fencing, shallow water areas and habitat plantings, To further support the voluntary wildlife habitat program, SCS has a wildlife biologist assigned to the Grand Junction field office. This biologist provides full-time assistance on the wildlife habitat replacement program, including coordination with other agencies, The Cooperative Extension assigned a second Irrigation Extension Agent to the Grand Valley project. During the year, a monthly newsletter (The Waterline) was sent to more than 2,000 recipients. The local salinity coordinating committee hosted a salinity tour in August 1990. The Cooperative Extension entered into an Interagency Agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation for a surge irrigation demonstration project. Under this agreement, 35 surge systems were installed and evaluations initiated to detsrmine the benefits over conventional systems. First year evaluations indicate that deep percolation and salt loading can be reduced up to 50 percent by surge systems. Las Vegas Wash, Nevada-Reclamation Quarterly monitoring of salinity at 15 sites in the Wash continued during 1990, Reclamation also cooperated in a dye study to determine