WSP06806

• File Number: 8276.450
• Description: McElmo Creek Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 5/1/1982
• Title: Possible Improvements for Onfarm Irrigation Systems to Reduce Salinity
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

MAY 1982

3. Provide increased technical assistance by SCS through the Montezuma
Soil Conservation District and by the ASCS county office to service the
expected accelerated work load.

4. Develop a conservation plan for management of complete resource systems
including an environmental evaluation for each farm. The conservation
plan will identify conservation practices consistent with priorities
established for salinity control and reflecting the owner's decisions
for making improvements to meet his objectives consistent with those of
the Salinity Control Program.

5. Structure the implementation program so that the off-farm group ditches
receive improvement ahead of the farms served by those group ditches.

6.

Obtain a long-term commitment from farm operators to begin an
improvement program based on individual conservation plans and to
accelerate that program consistent with established priorities for
early completion of needed improvements.

.

7. Continue the program for irrigation research to determine applicability
and limitations of various irrigation methods under local conditions of
soil, climate, crops and economics.

8. Initiate a program to monitor and evalute effectiveness of onfarm
improvements to verify that objectives of the salinity control program
have been achieved.

9. Initiate an information and education program to disseminate results of
research and new developments in irrigation equipment and practices
that can aid farmers in practicing good water management for salinity
control.

Level of Funding - The level of funding both public and private is a
critical element aftecting the implementation of works of improvement.
Although the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93-320) does
not specify a period of time for completion of the salinity control
program, it is recommended that implementation be completed within six
years. In order to achieve that goal a long-term level of federal funding
must be authorized such that each landowner will have the incentive to meet
the remaining level of funding required throughout the implementation
period. Also, the USDA's annual ACP funding limit per farmer should be
increased so that extensive work can be done in concentrated areas in the
shortest possible time.

.

VII-4

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