Laserfiche WebLink
<br />1.1.60 <br /> <br />The HEP process can also be used to determine onfarm <br />project impacts, Habitat transects are set up to cover <br />selected, broad habitat types, such as wetlands, upland, or <br />riparian, This should be done in plats for both control <br />and treated areas. Vegetative samples should be taken <br />along the transect to document changes in plant com- <br />munities. The vegetative density and plant community <br />composition are measured in one-square meter plots along <br />the transects~ The HEP and vegetative sampling should be <br />conducted at ihe same time on the transects. <br /> <br />Economic Monitoring <br /> <br />Off-Farm <br />A Bureau of Reclamation Planning Instruction (1985b) <br />provides guidance on evaluating the economic impacts of <br />off-farm salinity control projects which remove salt from <br />the Colorado River or its tributaries. This planning in- ' <br />struction also describes the technical basis for formulation <br />of the salinity control program, analysis of cumulative en- <br />vironmental impacts in the Colorado River basin, and use <br />of the Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS). ' <br /> <br />Onfarm <br />The primary objective of onfarm economics monitoring <br />and evaluation is to determine (1) the cost effectiveness of <br />individual salinity reduction practices and/or components <br />and salinity control systems in reducing salt load; (2) the <br />effects of increased water use efficiency; and (3) the im- <br />pacts on net farm income, The secondary objective is to <br />determine the extent to which the project has achieved the <br />potential onfarm salinity reduction, These determinations <br />are made by comparing data such as farm size, crop yields, <br />and water use efficiency between farms with and without <br />salinity control practices. <br /> <br />Onfarm economic performance ofthe project can be <br />measured in the following three ways, <br /> <br />1. Direct impacts on onfarm income and employment <br />and expected impacts on downstream salinity concentra- <br />tion resulting from the project can be compared to public <br />and private costs of administering and implementing the <br />program, <br /> <br />2. Project impacts can be compared with estimates of <br />expected accomplishment and cost made during project <br />planning, and <br /> <br />20 <br /> <br />21 <br />