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<br />MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANNUAL REPORT 1991 <br />COLORADO RIVER SALINITY CONTROL PROGRAM <br />LOWER GUNNISON, COLORADO UNIT <br /> <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />1. Overview and Methodology <br /> <br />Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is an integral part of all <br />SCS planning activities. The need for M&E in the Colorado <br />River Salinity Control (CRSC) Program is mandated and <br />specifically funded. It is required that monitoring address <br />hydrosalinity, economics and wildlife effects. Program <br />success is measured thru both hydrosalinity M&E (information <br />collected to quantify salt reduction from irrigation system <br />improvements and from irrigation water management) and <br />wildlife M&E (information gathered to measure achievement of <br />voluntary replacement of wildlife habitat). It must also be <br />determined that the salt load reduction is accomplished in a <br />cost effective manner and that sufficient on-farm benefits <br />are received to offset on-farm costs. <br /> <br />General description of the monitoring and evaluation in this <br />salinity unit <br /> <br />The Lower Gunnison, Colorado Unit (LGCU) is located in both <br />Delta and Montrose Counties. A portion of the drainage area <br />for the Gunnison River and for the Uncompahgre River (a <br />tributary) are included in this Unit and monitoring <br />activities are distributed herein (Figure 1). <br /> <br />The monitoring and evaluation program was established in <br />August 1989. During the 1991 field season, information was <br />collected from 4 weather stations and from 5 hydrosalinity <br />sites. There continued to be limitation of the type and <br />amount of data collected due to acquisition, setup and <br />modification of equipment. Data storage modules for <br />hydrosalinity sites, field equipment for soil moisture <br />determination, and aerial photo coverage for monitoring off- <br />site wildlife habitat were purchased; computer programs for <br />data retrieval and dissemination continue to be developed. <br /> <br />Hydrosalinity site monitoring was done on 5 fields ranging <br />in size from 3 acres to 58 acres. Three of these sites were <br />in Delta County and two were in Montrose County. The size <br />of farm ranged from 44 acres to 536 acres. Average field <br />size was 25.4 acres and average farm size was 234 acres. <br />Data collected included inflow and outflow for most <br />irrigations. <br /> <br />Weather station data collected included solar radiation, <br />temperature and evapotranspiration. Dip switch setttrel083 <br /> <br />1 <br />