WSP07079 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

o CJ1 en en Lower Gunnison Basin unit - Implementation is now underway in three of the four subareas in this unit. At the end of Fiscal Year 1991, 94 salinity control contracts had been signed with farmers and groups, and over 400 additional applications are on file. Farmers are installing underground pipelines, gated pipe, ditch lining, land leveling, sprinkler systems and surge irrigation. The annual salt load reduction at the end of the reporting period is 11,000 tons. About 31 percent of the contracts prepared include both upland and wetland habitat practices. Moaoa Vallev Unit - Preparation of the Moapa Valley draft environmental impact statement (EIS) continues. Public scoping meetings have been held in the area and the draft EIS is being prepared. The final EIS is scheduled for publication in 1992. Coooerative Extension Service-Information and Education - The Cooperative Extension Service is responsible for development and coordination of the USDA information and education programs for the salinity control program. Full time extension agents are located in the Grand Valley, uinta Basin, Big Sandy River, Lower Gunnison and McElmo Creek areas. Part-time assistance is provided in the Moapa Valley area. Through the efforts of USDA, ES, several successful field days and workshops have been held. Through these field days, and workshops producers have been instructed on best management irrigation practices to reduce water usage. They have also been introduced to several cost effective practices for salt reduction such as Surge Irrigation, and Micro-Jet Irrigation. Both of these practices have been shown to reduce salt loading and at the same time reduce project costs significantly. The Bureau of Reclamation has been instrumental in providing some funding for purchasing surge valves for demonstration purposes. A new project has been initiated with the Ute Indian Tribe, to help them in their mainteance and usage of the center pivots recently installed on the reservation .in the uinta County project. A video is also being developed to help understand the impact that the Colorado River Salinity Control Program has had in the lives of farmers and ranchers in the various units. Monitorinq and Evaluation Monitoring and evaluation activities continue to be conducted in each of the USDA salinity projects. Their primary purpose is to monitor the effects of the USDA salinity control program on salt load reduction. Also being assessed are the project's effects on wildlife habitat and the economic impacts. Annual reports are prepared to provide information on the monitoring and evaluation activities. USDA has undertaken efforts to improve the uniformity of these reports throughout the Basin. Interim instructions to be used as a guide for all monitoring and evaluation activities associated with the Colorado River Salinity Control program were released in August 1991. Research - The U. S. Salinity Laboratory has developed and successfully field tested mObilized/automated systems for measuring, inventorying, and monitoring soil salinity in irrigated 13 ,,}~ .,- "I