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, : .., ., I. INTRODUCTION ~~?... '.~m.1 ,,-~:.. w ~ -.:r N Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) was implemented in 1990 in the McElmo Creek Unit as outlined in the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Colorado River Salinity Control Program. This plan is a supplement to the "Framework Plan for Monitoring and Evaluating the Colorado River Salinity Control Program" dated June 23, 1991. Each Salinity Project Area has its own Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The. Salinity Control Program was established under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (PL-93-320) and as amended by PL-98-569. 1. Overview The data collection was started in 1991 and i3 being used to update technical notes, improve irrigation guides, provide irrigation system performance information, improve habitat evaluations, target habitat replacement, and improve economic evaluations. To provide this information, the M&E personnel investigated irrigation return flow, salt leaching in the soil profile, crop yields, soil chemical and physical characteristics, economic impacts, climatic factors, wildlife habitat, changes in wetlands, and effectiveness in the habita~ replacement program. This annual report has been prepared to present the results t<"", of the 1993 monitoring and evaluation activities for the.. :~~<::: McElmo Creek Salinity Control Project. The ".Framework Plan" which outlines the scope, the methodology, and the report format to be used by all salinity project offices is being used by this project office. 2. project Location The McElmo Creek Salinity project area is located in Montezuma County, which is in the sOuthwest corner.of Colorado and is part of the area called the Four Corners (Appendix A-l Location Map). The project area is approximately 29,000 acres. The main crops in the area are irrigated alfalfa and pasture grass. The average farm size is approximately 80 acres and the average field size is less than 30 acres. There are approximately 12 full time farmers and the rest are part-time farmers. The main source of water for crop growth is irrigation water from McPhee Reservoir on the Dolores River. This river then flows into the Colorado River at a point near Cisco, Utah, which is 110 miles northwest of the project area. The drainage water from the project area f:ows into McElmo Creek and not back into the Dolores River. The McElmo Creek is a tributary to the San Juan River which is a tributary to the Colorado River. 1