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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />o <br />...:. <br />(}1 <br />CD <br /> <br />Bureau of Land Management <br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program <br />Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 1997 <br /> <br />Arizona <br /> <br />Burro removals continue in the Lower Colorado River area and in the Black Mountains. Four <br />hundred fifty burros were removed in FY 97. Based on previous estimates, the long-term <br />improvement in plant communities resulting from these removals would increase infiltration of <br />precipitation and reduce runoff, saving up to 27 tons of salt from entering the Colorado River. <br /> <br />A reduction in numbers of livestock in the northwest portion of Mohave County (Arizona Strip <br />Field Office) is also expected to reduce volumes of saline sediments reaching the Colorado <br />River. The grazing adjustments were implemented to protect desert tortoise habitat. Reductions <br />reported previously in the Sunshine Allotment continued in FY 97, resulting in an estimated salt <br />saving of approximately 80 tons. <br /> <br />The Mohave County soil survey completed field work on public lands and 300,000 acres of <br />private land were mapped in FY 97, completing the field work for the entire county. <br /> <br />Riparian improvement work was conducted along the Santa Maria River to improve the <br />functioning of that system and reduce salinity in the Bill Williams River, a tributary of the <br />Colorado. Riparian improvement projects began in the Agua Fria watershed as part of the Agua <br />Fria Grassland Project. Reducing pressures on riparian pastures in summer and fall has <br />improved riparian area function, resulting in reduced runoff and stream bank erosion and better <br />filtering of sediments. The improvement in upland cover, desired plant communities, and <br />riparian function will result in subsequent reductions in salt contributions to the Colorado River <br />from Arizona Strip. Havasu, Yuma, Kingman and Phoenix Field Office lands. <br /> <br />Colorado <br /> <br />Colorado is participating in a pilot test of the National Resource Inventory, in coordination with <br />the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which until now has focused only on private lands. <br />It is an inventory of land cover and use. soil erosion, wetlands and other characteristics that may <br />bear on future efforts to reduce salinity. <br /> <br />Several specific projects and activities were carried out in FY 97 to improve the distribution of <br />livestock grazing. In Grand Valley watersheds, several reservoirs were cleaned of debris and <br />sediment, and some new reservoirs were constructed. A water. well was also developed in the <br />East Desert to improve livestock distribution. <br /> <br />Several riparian areas within the Grand Junction District were treated for salt cedar to <br />encourage the return of native vegetation, which will improve ground cover and result in better <br />protection against erosion. <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />"c __ 'c., <br /> <br />ti <br />~ ,_ ,t;~;~i <br />