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<br /><::) <br />c..n <br />OJ <br />-.J <br /> <br />soils. The technology can be used to inventory and monitor soil <br />salinity to assess the adequacy of leaching, drainage, irrigation <br />uniformity, determining sources of salt loading and for evaluating <br />salinity reduction practices. Also the U.s. Salinity Laboratory <br />has made conceptual/modeling studies to evaluate various irrigation <br />and drainage strategies to reduce water pollution. This research <br />shows that intercepting, isolating and reusing drainage waters for <br />irrigation will maximize the usability of the total water supply <br />and minimize drainage disposal and water pollution problems, <br />including brochures, newsletters, field days, field testing, and <br />demonstration of irrigation equipment. <br /> <br />Environmental Protection Aaencv <br /> <br />The Regional Administrator from EPA Region VIII led a <br />discussion on areas of concern to both EPA and the Colorado River <br />Basin Salinity Control Forum at the October 1990 Forum meeting. <br /> <br />EPA continues to maintain its involvement in the environmental <br />impact statement (EIS) process for the following salinity control <br />uni ts: Price-San Rafael Rivers, Moapa Valley, San Juan River Basin <br />(Hammond Area), and uinta Basin. The EPA review of the uinta Basin <br />unit Expansion draft EIS resulted in an agency rating of <br />"inadequate." EPA provided comments to the SCS. <br /> <br />EPA Region IX provided funds to the united states Geological <br />Survey (USGS) to prepare a report, based on information gathered to <br />date in the Aneth Area of southeastern Utah on the potential impact <br />on Colorado River salinity from groundwater contamination. Two <br />meetings of the Aneth Field Technical Committee, which includes a <br />Forum representative, to help coordinate activities in the Aneth <br />Area were held during the reporting period. <br /> <br />EPA continued its coordination efforts with SCS and FWS to <br />address concerns with the replacement of fish and wildlife values <br />foregone associated with the voluntary onfarm salinity program. <br />Comments have been provided to SCS on its revised version of the <br />Wetland Evaluation Procedures Worksheet, on Habitat Evaluation <br />Procedure (HEP) models for individual salinity control units, and <br />on the draft wetland monitoring and reporting guidance document. <br />EPA continues to express its concern that voluntary replacement of <br />wetland losses appears to be, in general, "out of kind" and that <br />voluntary replacement, at least with respect to the uinta Basin <br />Unit, is lagging substantially behind the losses. The Forum is <br />aware of EPA's concerns. Because of the voluntary nature of the <br />replacement of fish and wildlife values foregone and USDA's policy <br />of giving preferential consideration for contract awards to those <br />land owners who include habitat value replacement as part of their <br />application, the Forum believes that USDA is implementing the <br />program as directed by Congress. <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />..,,: <br />