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. . . o .." "'~. .. w United States Department of Agriculture Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 1997 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Environmental Quality Incentives Program consisting of Colorado River Basin salinity control activities is administered through the cooperative efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES). Funding In fiscal year 1997, $3.1 million was allocated to salinity control activities under the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These funds were used for cost-sharing and for education assistance activities. Status of Implementation Fiscal year 1997 is the first full year of implementation of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP funds for salinity control activities were allocated to existing salinity control project areas from the Colorado River Salinity Control program. The number of actual contracts approved and the amount of funds obligated to these contracts is not available as this report was prepared prior to the end of fiscal year 1997. These numbers along with cumulative salt reduction numbers will be available in early fiscal year 1998. Grand Valley, Colorado Implementation has been underway in this unit since 1979. The application of salinity control and wildlife habitat replacement practices continues. Farmers are installing underground pipelines, gated pipe. concrete lined ditches, land leveling, and a variety of other practices. The installation of surge irrigation systems continues to increase. The surge units provide the participants with the capability of performing fertigation, which involves applying liquid nitrogen fertilizer during the soak stage of irrigation. Acceptance of this practice is an additional incentive for farmers to install surge systems. Lower Gunnison Basin, Colorado This is the largest of the USDA salinity control units and is located in Delta and Montrose counties. Implementation was initiated in 1988 in this unit. The application of salinity reduction and wildlife habitat replacement practices continue to be an integral part of the implementation of Lower Gunnison unit. The major practices are underground pipelines, ditch lining, land leveling, irrigation water control structures, gated pipe, sprinkler and surge irrigation systems. 1 -~ -,1 ,n;",.",..,.l!l-""