WSP04702 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1000 A.\~Y( IAL REPOR T o o (0 w several approved private sector proposals upon implementation of USDA-funded. on-farm programs. In some cases. USDA funds are not now available. nor may not be available in the near future to accomplish the on-farm work. Accordingly, the claimed cost-effectiveness for the off-farm Bureau Basinwide Program components of these projects (as set forth in the approved proposals) cannot become a reality, The Council recommr:nds that the Bureau rr:vise its ranking criteria for future proposals so that this risk can Ix significantly reduced. One of the key elements in developing the plan of implementation is predicting river salinity trends into the future. The Council feels that the Bureau model used to make those predictions must Ix as accurate as possible. The Council is concerned that the current model does not meet this requirement and, therefore. recommends that USBR dedicate adequate staff to ensure a reliable model is available for the 2002 Review. The Council further reconunends that. on a permanent basis. the Bureau employ technically skilled staff to ensure that the model can be maintained and operated effectively in the future. The Council recommends in the Management and Budget Recommendations portion of this report that the federal program be accelerated to reduce downstream damages and to further n:duce the risk of excursions above the numeric criteria. The Council requests that Reclamation ask for an increased appropriation in FY 2002 and FY 2003 as shown in Table I of this report. The Council asks that Reclamation respond in writing to recommendations contained herein by May 11. 2001 (see page 12). Bureau of lAnd lllanagement (BL\f) The Council continues to be encouraged by lhe direction the BLM is taking to try to track lhe salinity reductions assignable to its various activities. The BU\1 has reported its efforts to identify activities on public lands that reduce salt loading in the Colorado River. The BlM has also reported it is undertaking a major land use planning effort and the Council feels lhat quantified salinity control should be an important focus during this planning. The Council reconunends that the BLM add a specific crirerion for evaluating salinity to lhe guidelines for the BU"l's land planning process. The Council urges the BLM to continue to educate its field personnel on how to identify and quantify salinity reducing activities. The Council recommends thatlhe BL!\1 educate its personnel COLOR.WO RlJ'ER B.otH.\' S.4.U.\1Tr CO.\TROL ADVISOR)" CO Ul\'ClL 4