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WHEIlE TO NOW? . Pursue agricultural source units .'!uch has been learned in the 10 years since: theCRWQIPbegan. Onfarmcontrols,canaJ and lateral lining, and related water management measures are effective in areas where irrl,ga- t idn system seepage and return flows are' the major contributors of salt loads. The planning prOcess is nearly completed on four agricultural source units currently l,/!1der investigation. Lower Gunnison Basin Unit (Stage 1), Uinta Basin Unit (Stage 1), ~EI~ Creek Unit, andPalo_VerdelrrigatlonDlstnct Unit. Reports presenting the status and the estimated construction COsts of the tentative plans are complete. Completion of feasibility reports,congressional authorization, and funding are required before advance planning studies for construction can begin. The Lower Gunnison 8asin Unit status report addressed the Uncompahgre Valley portion of the Lower Gunnison Basin. The balance of the Basin would be studied later. Thereconrnended plan calls for lining about 254 miles of . canals and laterals which would reduce the salinity at Imperial Oan about 15.2 mg/L. Based on January 1981 prices, total construc~ tion casts are estimated at $137.8 million. This results in a cost-effectiveness of about $685,000 for each mg/L of salinity reduction at Imperial Dam. The tentative p1an described in the Uinta Basin Unit status- report involves serec:- tively lining those portions of the canal and lateral distribution system which are making the largest contributions to the salinity levels in the area. Reclanation is working closely with SCS in developing a coordinated proqran in the area. The plan (four possi. bilities) curre(ltly calls for lining from 8 to 19 evaluation units {canals and laterals), which would reduce the salinity concentra..: tions at Imperial Dan from 4 to 10 mg/l. The most cost-effective improvellents will Ile identified as ttlestudies progress. Total construction costs are estimated between S28 to SSg million, based on Jdnuary 19B1 prices, - Streaml ille USDA onfarm progriJl\ Review of progr.:ms of the sts, ASCS, and S&E-AAS relating to the onfann salinity control programs revealed two areas needing revision. Attempts to use existing USDA programs to accomplish the salinity control objectives are not resulting in the progress that could be expected from a tailor-made act ivity. Such an activity should not be limited by annual cost-share ceilings, should make provisions for.thespecial conditions that drise in the different geographic areas, and should allow this portion of the salinity control progran to proceed without burdensome ildminis- trative constr.aints. A new program uniquely ddapted to the onfarm salinity control oppor- tunities ill the Colorado River Basin would be more effective. Historically, USDA funding has been provided as apart oftheACP and other existing progr<llls. Alternative, more direct funding approaches are being explored. These revisions \lolJuld allow reldted USDA and Interior prograns to more expeditiously meet the CRWQIP objectives and goals. -Pursue beneficial useofs.alinewaters Most of the current structurai methods of salinity contro\, such as desalting and lined evaporation ponds for point and diffuse salt sources, are proving ellpensive compared to irrigation improvements. Ttlerefore, develop- ment of alternative beneficial uses of saline water and innovative measures to reduce sal inity concentrations are necessary. By resolution dated September 12,1980, the Forl.l1l adopted d policy recommending that costs of using saline waters iO lieu of freshwaters be underwritten dS a part of the salinity control activities wherever cost-effective. The Basin States suggest that_the Secretary of ellclusive of the wildlife' plan. This. results in a cost-effectiveness range of $570,000 to $962,000 for ~ach mq/l of salinity reduction at Imp~rial O<"fll. Salinity COl'ltrol efforts are being closely coordinated with ongoing Central Utah Project activities under the Bonneville, Upalco. andUintahUnits. The ""Elmo Creek Unit. status report outlines three conceptual plans il'lvolving_canal and lateral, lining in combination with onfarm improV~ents. The total construction costs of the canal lining (Stage 1) portio-n for the preferred plan is expected to be approximately $35 million with a salinity concentrdtion reduction of about 6.1 mg/L at Imperial O~. Ttle cost-effectiveness of this phn is approximately S450,OOO per mg/l. If an accept- able canal and lateral improvenent progran cannot be implemented, an alternative of collecting the saline water for use in coo11ng powerplants il'ltheFourCorners area appears to have merit. The Palo Verde rrr-1~ation District Unit spec1dl report cone udes that about 10 percent of the Oistrict's canals and laterals could be lined under the salinity reduction progran for a total construction cost of about $17 million. About 20 miles of canals l<<Iuld be lined in conjunction with ol'lfarm practices ($4 million) and together would decrease the salinity at Imperial Dan by about 8 mg/l. Cost-effectiveness \lolJuld be S242,OOO per mg/l. The District has also expressed an interest in rehabilitating the renaining 275 miles of canals and laterals with those costs being repaid by the District. the Interior be provided authority under the Salinity Control Act to enter into cost. sharing contracts with industrial water users in the ColoradO River Basin to offset any incremental additional costs of using saline water in lieu of freshwater ..mere such undertakings are cost-effecitve from a salinity control perspective. - Financial arrangements This is abasinwideproblE'll,wlthregional as well as national impacts. The progran requires cooperation of the Basin States and Federal Government. Thec;urrentAlilIinistra- tion's_l!Conomic philosophy is for the bene- ficiaries to take the lead both financially and duthoritatively to solve resource manage- ment problems. In order to implement the pro- gran, equitable financial support will con. tinue to be a necessary component of the implementation plan. In recognition of this Joint effort for controlling salinity in the Colorado River, the 1974 ColoradO River Basin Salinity Control Act allocated the costs ofsalinltycontrol for the four authorized units to be 75 percent paid by Federal 1I0llreimbursable funds and 25 percent repaid from the basin funds derived from the sale of hydropower. Of the states' share, 85 percent will be repaid from the Lower Basin fund and 15 percent fran the Upper Basin fund. - Protect wildlife values ae8l Wildlife habItat which has developed as a result of irrigation system losses is an important resource_ This habitat, in a area otherwise void of Significant vegetation, provides cover dnd fOOd for many small mif\lll\als and birds. AsthehtJDanpopu1ation increases, pressures to maintain wildlife hdbitat increase_s from people desiring areas for hunting, fishing, and the opportunity for observing birds and mMlilals. Any reduction in wndife habitat associated with improving irrigation systens for salinity control raises concerns from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State fish and gill\e departments. Conservation and enhance- ment of wildlife values Is an important consideration in the local acc:eptabilityof various units in the salinity control progrdm. In recent years, the Department has supported legis\ation to provide such authority. It is expected that legislation will be introduced before the current Congress to address thjs i'Ssue. -Progrowimplenentation inFY1982 Planning investigations will continue to refine plans on irrigation source control units; planning will continue on other units to define the most cost-effect1ve measures as funding permits. Construction on Grand '1alley Stage One will continue; preconstruct ion activities (deep well injection testing) will continue on Paradox ....alley Unit; and reformu- lation plans will continue on the Las Vegas Wash Unit. The For-ISO has iMicated it will continue to seek ways to e;.:;pedite progran implementation to maintain quality of Colorado River water at the '1972 historical levels as the Basin States continue to develop their compact-apportioned waters.