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<br />screened 218 watersheds throughout Utah as to their potential for <br />reducing salt contribution through rangeland management techniques <br />(Phase I). Of the 218, eight were identified as having a high <br />potential for salinity reduction. <br /> <br />o <br />(Jl <br />01 <br />01 <br /> <br />A similar interagency team has been organized to rank <br />Colorado's watersheds. <br /> <br />Geoloqical Survey <br /> <br />The Geological Survey's Water Resources Division provides and <br />analyzes hydrologic information to assess the Nation's water <br />resources. The Survey provides information required by the <br />federal, state, and local agencies to address Colorado River water <br />quantity and quality problems. The Survey has completed or has <br />underway a number of studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin. An <br />ongoing study in the Dolores Project area is evaluating water <br />quality problems identified with long-term irrigation, including <br />salinity and selenium concentrations. On the Southern Ute Indian <br />Reservation, studies will determine irrigated agriculture's <br />contribution to the high selenium concentrations. studies related <br />to selenium are also underway in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River <br />areas. Similar studies in the middle Green River basin have shown <br />high concentrations of selenium in the water. The USGS and the <br />Fish and wildlife Service are providing the technical support to <br />Reclamation for the development of a plan for remedial action. <br /> <br />In the Aneth area in southeastern Utah, the USGS, with funding <br />from EPA, BLM, Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Navajo <br />Tribe, and the Utah Division of oil, Gas and Mining, and support <br />from private industry, will define the areas of high salinity and, <br />if possible, the causes. <br /> <br />DeDartment of Aqriculture <br /> <br />For Fiscal Year 1991, Congress appropriated $14.783 million <br />for the USDA Colorado River Salinity Control program. The <br />following information describes the major salinity control <br />activities carried out by the involved USDA agencies. <br /> <br />Biq Sandv River unit - At the end of the reporting period, 28 <br />salinity control contracts had been signed with farmers in the Big <br />Sandy area for onfarm salinity reduction practices. Most farmers <br />are installing low pressure center pivot irrigation systems and are <br />aChieving significant water savings. The practices installed to <br />date account for an annual salt load reduction of 9,000 tons. <br />Efforts continue with the voluntary wildlife habitat replacement <br />program. Much interagency cooperation has been underway in this <br />area to find ways to support the wildlife habitat replacement <br />program. This effort has resulted in FWS providing assistance to <br />a salinity control participant for installation of a large wildlife <br />pond. <br /> <br />12 <br />