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<br />~.. <br /><:.::> <br />(.; <br />WI <br /> <br />cause serious interruption to the long-term irrigation <br />improvement and on farm projects, as well as result in future <br />unrealistic funding requests from Congress. <br /> <br />Maior Findings <br /> <br />The recommended plan will fully satisfy the salt load <br />reduction objective (1.09 million tons per year by <br />2010) and the program goal of maintaining salinity <br />below 879 mg/L at Imperial Darn. <br /> <br />Total construction cost for the program is now pro- <br />jected to be about $498 million, or $72 million less <br />than the $570 million projected in 1985, which is sig- <br />nificantly less than previous estimates ($1.9 billion <br />in 1983). <br /> <br />In order for the recommended plan to meet the program <br />objective and goals, it is imperative that construc- <br />tion of most of the projects under the plan be ini- <br />tiated no later than 1991. <br /> <br />In order to meet the program needs beyond the next <br />decade, to minimize Lower Basin interest costs and <br />maintain program continuity, construction of several <br />new projects needs to be initiated in the next 4 <br />years. The $498 million investment level appears to <br />best satisfy the remaining long-term requirements at <br />least investment cost. <br /> <br />To meet salt load reduction objectives, it is neces- <br />sary to have a mix of both USDA and Interior projects. <br /> <br />Repayment analysis of the Lower Colorado River Basin <br />Fund shows that sufficient funds are available to <br />cover all costs (capital, O&M, interest, and 3.8 percent <br />inflation) for the $498 million cost of the recom- <br />mended plan. <br /> <br />Continued close Federal and State coordination among <br />Interior, USDA, the Interagency Committee, the Forum, <br />and the Advisory Council is critical to continued <br />effective management of the program. <br /> <br />To keep the project implementation schedule on track, <br />the evaluation will need to be reviewed annually for <br />the next several years to allow for inclusion of newly <br />formulated, more cost-effective projects and changes <br />in technology. <br /> <br />5 <br />