WSP04649

• File Number: 8276.150
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/1/1990
• Title: Draft 1989 Annual Report: Grand Valley Salinity Control Project Monitoring and Evaluation Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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GRAND VALLEY SALINITY CONTROL PROJECT
MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM
1989 ANNUAL REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The effects of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Grand Valley Sal inity Program (GVSP) are being monitored as outl ined
in the 1983 USDA Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The effects of
irrigation practices on salt load reduction, economics and soi I
salinity levels are being evaluated on selected fields within the GVSP
area. The impacts on wi Idl ife habitat due to cost-share sal inity
practices were monitored and evaluated between 1983 to 1988 and is now
complete. Figure 1 shows the general GVSP area and also the
approximate location of the irrigated fields that were monitored in
1989.

The impacts of salinity practices are being monitored as outlined In
the 1983 USDA Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan. The original M&E
Plan of 1983 has been modified to some extent. The changes made have
been i dent if i ed I n the 1986 Annua I Repo rt.

The SCS J'1onitoring and Evaluation Program in the Grand Valley has been
implemented for 6 years. This is the fifth year that a full season of
irrigation data have been collected.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the M&E program are to measure and quantify the ?
effects of improved on-farm irrigation systems and practices being
installed in the G,-and Valley to reduce salt loading to the Colorado /
River. The overall impacts on wi Idl ife habitat have already been
evaluated and completed. Impacts on economic effects, potential
salinity reductions and sOil salinity levels are being evaluated. The
M&E data wi II help determine program effectiveness in reducing the
salt load in the Colorado River; and to help direct future salinity
program activities.

This report is divided into three parts dealing with each of the
monitoring disciplines: Irrigation, Soils and Economics. Each
discipline is at a different level of project implementation and data
collection, therefore, each is dealt with separately in this report.
Interpretations involving two or more discipl ines being monitored wi II
be made on specific subjects, whenever possible. In this report. the
section on "Wi Idl ife Habitat" has not been included since no wi Idl ife
study was done in 1989.