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<br />1999 ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br />o <br />00 <br />w Council members that there has not been an effective disclosure of how federal funds have been <br />W <br />committed by Reclamation for the Basinwide Program, and coordination between Reclamation and <br />the USDA on a basinwide basis appears to be lacking. As the two programs become more <br />integrated, one step in the effort to better coordinate the two efforts would be to include a <br />representative from the USDA on the committee that evaluates proposals to Reclamation. The <br />Council asks that Reclamation prepare a written document stating agreed upon protocols. <br /> <br />The Council notes that Reclamation's basinwide salinity control program appears to have much <br />promise as significant proposals have been received, cost effectiveness numbers are good, and a <br />large part ofthe funds initially authorized by Congress have been committed. The Council believes <br />the overall ceiling for Reclamation's Basinwide Program needs to be increased. Ifit is not increased <br />soon, the Basinwide Program could be interrupted due to cost ceiling constraints. It would be <br />disruptive to have Reclamation's program on hold for a year or more due to the lack of funding <br />authorization. The Council commends the states, the Forum and the Department of the Interior for <br />supporting the needed legislation. The Council feels that good progress in this regard was made in <br />1999 as the Senate passed the needed legislation (S.l211) and the House has held hearings on its <br />version of the legislation (H.R.2619). Congress is strongly encouraged to enact into law the <br />requested ceiling increase in 2000. <br /> <br />For the last couple of years, Basinwide Program funding has been utilized with funding from other <br />programs that Reclamation manages to implement irrigation improvements. Two examples of this <br />are canal lining in the Uinta Basin of Utah and the Lower Gunnison salinity demonstration-selenium <br />mitigation project in the Uncomphgre Valley of Colorado. The Council requests that Reclamation <br />report to the Council on the a~tivity under these coordinated programs, including the use of other <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COl/NCIL <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />_.,,- <br />