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,..... ~ o 00 Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit, Utah East-central Utah's Price and San Rafael Rivers basins contribute an estimated 430,000 tons of salt to the Colorado River annually. Approx- imately 60 percent ofthis load is attributable to agriculture. Reclamation/USDA USDA and Reclamation have prepared a draft planning report and environmental impact statement (PRlEIS) for the Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit. During 1993, responses to comments on the USDA voluntary wildlife habitat replacement program were made, and the final report is now being prepared. Sagers Wash BlM The Greater Sagers Wash Watershed Management Plan was approved in February 1993. The purpose of the effort is to reduce annual sediment and salt yield to the Colorado River at McGraw Bottom by 5,600 and 200 tons per year, respectively. Following public involvement and environmental assessments, implementation of the plan begins in fiscal year 1994. During fiscal year 1994, BLM expects to undertake two demonstration projects. Paired watersheds continue yielding water quality monitoring data at two stations, which are largely supported by cooperative funding from the Upper Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation. Complete data reports for water years 1991 and 1992 have been submitted to Reclamation. San Juan River Unit, New Mexico The study area includes the entire 23,OOO-square-mile San Juan River water- shed from the river's headwaters in south- central Colorado to its mouth at Lake Powell. The drainage contributes approximately 1 million tons of salt annually to the Colorado River system. The Hammond Project and the Hogback Irrigation Project are the principal irrigation-induced sources of salt loading in the basin. Reclamation Reclamation proposes to reduce seepage losses to the main canal system by lining the canal with either concrete or membrane linings. These improvements would eliminate seepage into the saline formations beneath the canals, thus reducing sa1inity. Reclamation is preparing an environmental assessment for the Hammond area; a draft is scheduled for completion in January 1994. The unit, one of the most cost- effective units in the program, would reduce salt loading by an estimated 27,700 tons per year. Reclamation has received reports of and observed saline inflows to the San Juan River in the "Hogback" area. Hundreds of oil and gas exploration wells have been drilled in this area, raising concerns over mobilization of saline aquifers. Reclamation is investigating the apparent salt gains along the San Juan River. USDA A sa1inity investigation was completed by Arizona SCS on irrigated lands along the San Juan River in New Mexico from the vicinity of Fruitland, westward to Cudei. This area, consists of about 8,400 irrigated acres within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. The investigation concluded that a reduction in salt loading of approximately 36,000 tons of salt per year could be accomplished by improving the onfarm irrigation systems, increasing the level of irrigation water management, and lining and repairing canals and laterals. Findings from the investigation were published in a verification report. BlM BLM has continued to work with the State of New Mexico to acquire funds for orphaned well . plugging and has also cooperated on the unlined pit closure/remediation efforts. The investi- gation of the hydrology and sa1inity of the Aneth Project area, begun in fiscal year 1991 continues. 17