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<br />Most BLM resource areas within the Colorado River basin have saline soils. In addition, <br />W saline springs and wells are common throughout the public lands in the basin. The severity <br />t,c) and extent of the salinity issue vary widely, however, as do the planning status and <br />l' ,:, potential for control in each area. <br />...: <br /> <br />BLM offices have evaluated or will identify and evaluate salinity control activities in <br />resource management plans, and several field offices are presently implementing salinity <br />control activities. Appendix A identifies the status of the resource management planning <br />process for areas with saline soils for each of the seven basin States. It also identifies <br />classes of saline soils for each area and is accompanied by a map displaying the saline <br />soils. <br /> <br />Upon completion of a resource management plan and the fmal EIS, and prior to project <br />implementation, an activity plan may be prepared to guide more specific on-the-ground <br />management actions or projects. An activity plan normally includes the purpose and <br />objectives of the proposed action, problem identification, alternative solutions to the <br />problem, cost analysis, planned actions, and monitoring requirements. Prior to <br />implementation of any on-the-ground project identified through activity planning, a site- <br />specific environmental analysis is prepared. <br /> <br />Activity plans are developed for many different disciplines and for many different <br />purposes. As examples, allotment management plans are activity plans developed for <br />implementing grazing management decisions, and habitat management plans are activity <br />plans written to implement wildlife management decisions. <br /> <br />Opportunities for correcting salinity problems are included as management practices which <br />are often incorporated into activity plans for other resource uses. For example, BLM may <br />establish standards for forage use and vegetation maintenance in allotment management <br />plans to achieve management objectives for runoff and surface erosion on saline rangeland. <br /> <br />If the salinity problem is highly significant and untreatable by incorporating these practices <br />into activity plans for other resource uses, BLM prepares activity plans specific to <br />watershed management These plans identify significant watershed problems and their <br />causes, quantify the extent and severity of the problems, formulate alternative projects to <br />correct the problems, and schedule the implementation of selected projects. <br /> <br />Management practices, such as tillage and other surface manipulation, runoff retention and <br />detention structures, and gully control structures, can be used to rehabilitate severely <br />eroding landscapes and reduce sediment and salt yields. <br /> <br />A monitoring section will be included in each plan to verify salt-load estimates and track <br />other objectives identified in the plan. <br /> <br />BLM coordinates its salinity control activities with State and Federal agencies, local <br />officials, and public interest groups. BLM is a Federal advisor to the Colorado River Basin <br />Salinity Control Forum Work Group, and attends all Work Group, Forum, and Advisory <br />Council meetings. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum and Advisory <br />Council are both composed of representati ves of each of the seven basin States. <br /> <br />BLM is also a member of the Colorado River Salinity Control Interagency Committee, <br />composed of the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. <br />Bureau of Reclamation, USDA Soil Conservation Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. <br />, <br /> <br />10 <br />