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<br />w <br />:...:> <br />c.o <br />0:' <br /> <br />effect of high, saline water tables on irrigation water requirements. <br />Other research and development concerns evaluat log automat ion equipment. <br />testing new water control devices. and working wlth farmers to integrate <br />these components into an effective management system. <br /> <br />The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) assists in the salinity control <br />progrd11 in various ways. The prinCipal EPA progrcrns dealing with salinity <br />control are: (1) Water Quality Management Planning. (2) Water Quality <br />Standards, and (3) the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination <br />System) Permits. Primary implementation of these progrcYl1s is largely <br />delegated to the State; however, EPA retains oversight and approval respon~ <br />sibilities. Regions VIII and IX allocated funds to help create and support <br />an executive director position for the Forum (Colorado River Basin Salinity <br />Control Forum). EPA also works with individual States and Federal agencies <br />on salinity control planning activities. <br /> <br />The BLM (Bureau of land Management) is continuing to study the process of <br />salt pickup and transport in surface runoff from rangelands and ground <br />water. Recent studies have shown a relationship between increased salinity <br />and increased runoff and soil loss. Additional data are needed on the <br />feasibility of controlling natural and man-caused point sources of salinity <br />from ground water. Sinbad Valley's Salt Creek is a point source of saline <br />ground water. The cost-effect iveness of removing about 7.000 tons of salt <br />from this area is about $720.000 to $755,000. Further studies are needed <br />before a recommended plan is selected. <br /> <br />The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) compiled a report for the BLM that <br />describes the effects of geology in the Colorado. Utah, and Wyoming parts <br />of the Basin on salinity in the river system. Water quality samples are <br />collected daily, monthly, or quarterly from approximately 100 sites estab- <br />1 i shed by Rec 1 amati on and USGS. Th i s man itor i ng sys tern is espec i ally <br />valuable in providing data for the CRWQIP. <br /> <br />The FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) activities are important to the <br />progress of the CRWQIP. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act reports and <br />input on draft environmental statements are a few of the many activities. <br />Through close cooperation of the various agencies and local entities, <br />habitat replacement will be evaluated and recommendations made. Imple- <br />mentation of incidental wildlife habitat replacement will proceed when <br />authority is received. <br /> <br />The Forum and Advisory Council (Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Advisory Council) are organizations of the Colorado River Basin States that <br />work with the Federal agencies in implementing the CRWQIP. The Advisory <br />Council was created by Section 204 of Public Law 93-320 and is composed of <br />no more than three members from each Colorado River Basin State appointed <br />by t he respect i ve Governors. The Adv i sor y Counc i 1 is adv i sor y on 1 y and <br />acts as liaison between the States and Secretaries of the Interior and <br />Agriculture and the Administrator of the EPA. The Advisory Council <br />receives reports from the Secretary of the Interior on the progress of <br />the progrcrn and recommends to both the Secretaries of the Interior and <br />Agriculture and the Administrator of the EPA appropriate studies of further <br /> <br />xxi i i <br />