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lined, eliminating winter water now diverted through canal systems, retiring high salt contributing lands from irrigation, and using saline water for industrial purposes. A draft plan of study was completed and approved in September 1986. Planning activities are scheduled to begin in October 1986, with a preliminary findings report prepared by November 1987. I-'- 00 To date, over 80 percent of the Uinta Basin USDA on-farm and rv supportive off-farm salinity control improvements have been implemented ~) through the use of Long Term Agreements (L~). More than 90 percent of the participants who entered into LTA's have done so through pooling arrangements whereby two or more participants develop mutually beneficial plans. A major emphasis has been placed on comprehensive planning and LTA preparation. Participants are assisted in implementing a well-balanced improvement program of structural and management practices that address salinity reduction and wildlife habitat enhancement. In calendar year 1985, 70 LTAs were authorized for implementation. These agreements, when completed, will minimize salt loading impacts from 3,368 acres of irrigated cropland and 4,500 linear feet of off-farm irrigation system laterals. In addition to practices in LTAs, 55 annual practices were installed which partially treated 1,485 acres of irrigated cropland. At the end of 1985, salinity program participants had achieved irrigation water management on 18,000 acres and reduced salt loading to the Colorado River by an estimated 15,447 tons. Treatment of 23,169 linear feet of off-farm laterals has reduced salt loading by an additional 3,711 tons. Overall, average annual salt reduction to date has been 19,158 tons. Approximately 26 percent of project funds have been obligated and approximately 19 percent of projected salt load reduction benefits have been achieved. 23. Virgin Valley Unit (USDA) The area consists of about 5,000 acres of irrigated land owned by about 50 individuals. Four irrigation companies or districts would also be involved with improvements of about 6 miles of off-farm canal and lateral iff~rovement. Deep percolation reduction is estimated to be 19,000 acre-feet per year and salt load reductions are estimated to be 37,200 tons per year. While the Virgin valley is independent of any Reclamation salinity control project, the downstream impacts on the Bureau of Reclamation Lower Virgin River Unit are to be evaluated by Reclamation and SCS collectively. Otherwise, this unit has met the prerequisite for construction and is awaiting funding. The Virgin Valley report was published in March 1982. D. State NPDES Salinity Discharge Permitting The States of the Colorado River Basin, the Federal Executive Department, and Congress have adopted the policy that the salinity of the lower main stem of the Colorado River shall be maintained at or below the flow-weighted average values found during 1972 while the Basin States continue to develop their compact-apportioned water. The flow-weighted averages are referred to as numeric criteria at three downstream stations--below Hoover Dam, below VII-31