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<br />1999 ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br />~ The Council subscribes to the implementation plan described in the 1999 Review. The Council is <br />W concerned that insufficient funding is being requested by the federal agencies and being provided <br />.- <br />by the Congress for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. This has caused delays in <br />the implementation of salinity control reduction measures and has created a shortfall in salt removal <br />as described in the 1999 Review, thereby increasing the risk of exceeding the numeric criteria in the <br />future. It is imperative that the federal agencies vigorously pursue adequate funding for salinity <br />control projects, including appropriate funding for the operation and maintenance of completed <br />projects, in the Administration's budget request each year and pro-actively encourage Congress to <br />appropriate the funds necessary to carry out the salinity control activities, including the elimination <br />of the shortfall, set forth in the 1999 Review. <br /> <br />Of most concern is the inadequate funding that has been provided to the USDA program over the <br />last four years. Since the passage ofFAIRA, funding has been far short (much less than half) the <br />dollars needed to implement each year the amount of salinity control assigned to the USDA in the <br />Plan of Implementation and recommended by the Advisory Council. Each year funding is short of <br />the needed identified amount, the deficiency of USDA salinity control builds and this deficiency <br />increases the probability of salinity concentrations exceeding the numeric criteria in the EP A <br />approved water quality standard. <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) <br /> <br />On July 28, 1995, Reclamation's Salinity Control Program was amended by the signing of Public <br />Law 104-20. Under this authority, Reclamation requests proposals from other entities for salinity <br />control projects, evaluates these proposals, selects appropriate projects, and provides a portion ofthe <br />funds for their implementation. Reclamation also provides technical support. The Council <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL ADVISORY COUNCIL <br /> <br />4 <br />