Laserfiche WebLink
<br />This level can reduce salt loading by 162,000 tons through reduced <br /> <br />seepage from onfarm ditches, 120,000 tons from reduced deep percolation, and <br /> <br />31,000 tons from reduced tailwater ditch seepage. The 313,000 tons, a 71 <br /> <br />percent reduction in the salt load delivered to the river, can be achieved <br /> <br />at a one-time valley-wide installation cost of $275,000,000. <br />Economic Analysis <br /> <br />Basic data for the economic analysis was obtained through public <br /> <br />meetings, questionnaires, interviews with area residents, Water and Power <br /> <br />Resources Service and other federal and state agency personnel. Soil <br /> <br />Conservation Service employees, local leaders in the Lower Gunnison Salinity <br /> <br />Study area, research publications and experts in the field were contacted in <br /> <br />an attempt to improve the analysis. The procedure used in the economic <br /> <br />analysis emphasized the importance of compiling and analyzing the physical <br /> <br />data in a manner so that the data were sensitive to varying levels of <br /> <br />resource development. The analysis was based on comparing effects of the <br /> <br />various alternatives with effects of continuing ongoing programs. Water <br /> <br />Resources Council's current normalized prices for crops were used. One of <br /> <br />the most important aspects of the analysis was determining the effect of <br /> <br />continuation of ongoing programs so that each alternative could be judged <br /> <br />from that basis. Data estimates for present conditions were also <br /> <br />developed. <br /> <br />Onfarm Benefits <br /> <br />Crop budgets were developed for continuation of ongoing programs and <br /> <br />for future conditions under each of the alternative plans. Production costs <br /> <br />were identified with particular emphasis being placed on variable costs. In <br /> <br />cases where it was determined that yield levels and/or production costs <br /> <br />varied by soil classes, crop budgets were developed accordingly. <br /> <br />11-13 <br /> <br />001216 <br />