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<br /> <br />improvement, and control of adverse environmental factors when <br />possible. The impact on cold and warm water streams is variable, <br />depending on the quality of the stream resource and State <br />management policies. Fisheries in many streams are not easily <br />managed in a cost-effective manner. While wildlife programs will <br />be able to improve habitat for certain species of big game, <br />waterfowl, and some species of upland game, this type of habitat <br />base in many parts of the Basin can be expected to decline <br />because present programs and regulatory efforts cannot develop <br />enough habitat or mitigate adequately against the adverse effects <br />of intensified land and water uses. As a result, riparian, <br />wetland, and native grassland habitats will continue to decline <br />in the near future. The rate of habitat decline, however, will <br />be less than that experienced during the two previous decades. <br /> <br />Irriqation <br /> <br />Irrigation programs are particularly recommended in the <br />semi-arid to sub-humid portions of the Basin in order to improve <br />the productivity and efficiency of agricultural operations in <br />those areas, and to increase overall agricultural productivity of <br />the Basin. Actions are centered around: (1) improving existing <br />irrigation systems, and (2) developnent of new irrigation <br />systems. <br /> <br />The Rehabilitation and Betterment (RiB) Program provides for <br />the modification of the water diversion and delivery system, for <br />improved return flow management, and for changes in hOW, when or <br />how much of the water is applied to the land. While overall <br />impacts of the R&B program are considered as beneficial, local <br />impacts are highly variable and must be evaluated in that <br />context. The following general effects, however, can be <br />anticipated: (1) reduction of the amount of water diverted from <br />streams or released from reservoirs during the irrigation season; <br />(2) decrease of water seepage from canals with possible reduction <br />in recharge to underlying aquifers; (3) improvement of <br />agricultural productivity in those instances where water supplies <br />are limited or improved return flow management is needed; <br />(4) increase or decrease of energy use, depending upon how water <br />consumption patterns or delivery systems are changed; (5) loss of <br />some wetlands created by canal seepage; and (6) loss of water <br />supply for water users who are withdrawing from seepage sources. <br />Water quality changes can also be expected. In general, control <br />over sediment and associated pollutants would be increased within <br />a basin where these practices are implemented. <br /> <br />-256- <br />