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<br />~ <br />.' CD <br />CD <br />CD <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />Average onfarm irrigation efficiencies are expected to improve by 8 percent <br />in Grand Valley and by 17 percent in the Uintah Basin. The salt load <br />reduction projected for the Grand Valley unit is 230,000 tons per year upon <br />full implementation of the selected on-farm and associated lateral <br />improvement plan. In the Uintah Basin, it is projected that 77,000 tons per <br />year of salt 'load reduction will occur upon full implementation of the <br />onfarm program, plus an additional undetermined amount from related lateral <br />work. Water quality benefits to downstream users are significant. The <br />decrease in salinity concentration at Imperial Dam from implementation of <br />the Grand Valley Unit USDA plan is estimated to be 23.9 mg/l, and for the <br />Uintah unit, 10.3 mg/l. The latter will increase when the effects of the <br />associated lateral improvements now under study are included. <br /> <br />On farm and local community benefits from the USDA onfarm program are also <br />significant. In the Grand Valley Unit, they are estimated to average <br />$3.2 million per year and in the Uintah Unit, $5.8 million per year. <br /> <br />Implementation of plans for both units is scheduled for completion within a <br />ten-year period. Typical practices involved in these salinity control plans <br />include irrigation pipelines, land leveling, water measuring and control <br />structures, sprinkler systems, ditch lining, automation devices, change in <br />method, and improved irrigation water management. <br /> <br />Implementation of salinity control activities in the Colorado River Basin <br />serves as an example of an intensive targeting effort by several USDA <br />agencies working together with USDI, EPA, the States, and the involved <br />irrigation entities. The cooperative efforts of these agencies conServe <br />water, improve irrigation efficiencies and irrigation water management, and <br />reduce deep percolation to control salinity. The program is well received <br />by local participants and is strongly supported by the seven Basin States. <br /> <br />A bar chart and table follows which reflects projected schedules and funding <br />needs, considering a 10 year installation period in each unit, for USDA <br />Title II activities. <br /> <br />-"-..... <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.." <br /> <br />t'. ,;:( <br />, "',. d'" '~"".1iIiiI <br /> <br />~ <br />