<br />l'\.'l
<br />VI
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<br />
<br />~ ImplementaIlon
<br />
<br />P~l salln,ityoontrotprojectirnpl9mentationactivities
<br />are balrfg accomplished VSing existing USDA authorities.
<br />Tho ~lmp~latlon projects underway are Grand
<br />Valley ( Itia, "'d, In 1979) and Uln,ta Basin (started In 1960).
<br />l'heee plemilnlation projeCt$ to decrease salt IQads 10
<br />the eotbTado River focus primarily upon onfarm irrigation
<br />system~mp~ts, related latef'al delivery system
<br />im~ts; and onfarm Irrigation water management
<br />==',*toi~ 'm"tion.mo;"",..",dto """"
<br />
<br />T aieIItlw1celor~nlng,daslgn,and
<br />Instal _ of Onfarm Irrigation systems improvements
<br />and on~rm water management 1$ provided bySCS under
<br />the reQ~lar 50s: conservation technical 88$lsIllnce
<br />progmm,FundlngforllnBnellllalllltancetopl'O'.'lde
<br />lancrowt.ercost-sharesupportforlnstallatlonolinigation
<br />water rdanagernent system Improvements and related
<br />salinity ~Irol moosures-Is provlded ,by the Agricultural
<br />Stabll~tion and Conservation Sel'\llce through the ACP
<br />~~ra.I Cpnservatlon Program). Educational
<br />and 8$Slstance Is prO\'ided through funds
<br />alloca~ by ttie Extension Service and the State
<br />Cooperjtive Extension ServIoes of Utah and Colorado.
<br />EducatlOnal895istance is necessary to Inform farmers and
<br />~ about. the salinity cOntrol projects, new
<br />Iechnol9gles. and how improVed inigatlon ~ter
<br />~t ~n benefit IndMdual farmers and
<br />~ Colorado Rlller water users.
<br />
<br />R....... lIIld DemonatraIIon
<br />
<br />The ~6pfnen1 M:d testing of new technology,
<br />lm~ iniQ4tion equipment, and different inigatlon
<br />tecnniQges are vitally important research actMtles
<br />pl'9S9fltty being funcled by the Agricultural Research
<br />SeNlcetAdditl9nal research support Is being provided by
<br />the CoQpen!tiiJe State Research Service through the
<br />ColoracJo and Utah agricultural experiment stations.
<br />S1gr)iflCilnfproQress Is being made through research
<br />efforttl &\nd demonstre:tlon sites within the two
<br />imp~tatioO projects (Grand Valley and Uinta Basin).
<br />
<br />Monitbrlng lIIld EvoluotIon
<br />
<br />SCS ~ major respons\l:illity for monitoring and
<br />evalUlll.itlg the progress and impacts of onfarm salinity
<br />
<br />The .. Vetde IntgalIon DIItrk:t Unit speCIal report
<br />conclucles that about 10 percent of the Dlstricfs 295 miles
<br />of canafe,and laterals (about 20 miles) could be lined under
<br />thesal~~ reduction program for a total constructio:nq>st
<br />of !\bcl4lS17 million. The20mllasofcanal$wouldbe lined
<br />in conJ9nctlOl'\ wIth,oofarm practices (onlarm costs-$4
<br />mml~~ and tqgether would decrease the salinity at
<br />Imperilfl Oam by about 8 ml1L. The District also
<br />expreIlIfadan 1ntefe8t In rehabilitating the remaining 275
<br />miles of cana/$ and laterals wtth jhe -costs: outside the
<br />scope of the salinity control programs being repaid by the
<br />District:
<br />PIOtei:t W_ Vel_
<br />,
<br />Wildltfe habitat which has developed as a result of
<br />Irrigatiqn.systlim Io&$lI$ is an Important resource. This
<br />habIlat,iln an areaotherwisevoid of signifl.cahtvegetation!
<br />~ cover and food for many, small mammals and
<br />blrds.fltessurestomalnt!iinwildllfehabitathavelncraased
<br />with g~ In human population. People deslreareas,for
<br />hunting, fishing, and for the opportunity to obsef"'EI birds
<br />and rnElInmals.
<br />Ally ~tIOn in wlldlne habitat a$$ociatei:l with
<br />Improvltlginig8tlonsystemsforsalinityoontrotraloos
<br />conoems from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServIce anq the
<br />State ~ and game departments. The aPProach to the
<br />consenotl,tioo 8fld en~cem~t of wildlife values' is an
<br />Importaht oonslderatlon.ln the local acceplabitityof
<br />"".riO~~~~its In the salinity control program.
<br />In roqunt years, the Department of the Interior has
<br />su~leglslatloritoprovidesuchauthority..Itis
<br />expectej:lthat the Forum will sponsor legislation beforethe
<br />cUf11lnt hasslon of Congress to address this Issue.
<br />Strear\.lIneUSDA Onfilnn Progl8ll1
<br />Whl[$xisting USDA program authorities have provided
<br />an oppdnunity to initiate a Colorado River aallnlty control
<br />progrant there are numerous'_reasons and specific
<br />clrcumsfanoes unique to sallnlty control that justify a
<br />separe~ tailor-made program;
<br />In addition. USDA onlarm and Reclamation off-farm
<br />CiIJl81 ar\d lateral Improvement programs need to be
<br />'meted concurrently because of the
<br />in onshlps of off.farm distribution systems to
<br />onfann ITfgallon water management systems.
<br />Cost-shfire restrictions and limitations through, existing
<br />
<br />control actMties. Umited funding has restricted the scope
<br />of eariier monitoring actMtloo; however, more thorough
<br />and comprehensive monitoring- plans have been
<br />developed and are being Implemented.
<br />Interagency coordination within USDA is maintained
<br />through a USDA Salinity Control Coordinating
<br />COmmrttee.
<br />
<br />WHERE TO NOW?
<br />
<br />Pursue Agrlcul\\lral Sou.... Unl1s
<br />
<br />Wi!h 37 percent of theCotora<:lo Rivel'saIlnitysouroElS
<br />attributed to inigatedagricolture, it isobviouslylmportant
<br />for both Reclamation and USDA to pursuesallnity control
<br />from agricultural source units. Seepage of irTigation water
<br />from canal and lateral distribution systems, over..Jnigatlon,
<br />and excesaIve deep percolation are the primary causes of
<br />salt loads from Irrigated agricultural areas.
<br />Bureau 01 Reclamatlon actMtlesarefocusec:t primarily
<br />uporl the major canals and off.farm lateral distribution
<br />systems. Through canal and Isteml ditch Iinlngorpipellne
<br />convsfSions, seepage from distribution systems can be
<br />nearty eliminated. However, the type and nature of
<br />improvements may affect the onfarm irTigation system
<br />improvements which may be undertaken.
<br />. USDA onfann _assistance addresses Improvements to
<br />, thelrrlgationsyslems,metI'lOdSofirrigation,-andlncreases
<br />in Irrigation efficiencies through Improved water'
<br />management. As lnigation effIclencles increase, deep
<br />percolation Is reduced; and subSequentsatt loadings to
<br />thO river are decreased. ActIvities of the USDA,onfarm
<br />program are compl&mentary to the- Reclamation saiinity
<br />control effornl. USDA also provides asslstanca for
<br />improvIng those related off-farm lateral distribution
<br />syst9mS not addressed by Reclamation.
<br />Reclamation has neariy completed plan formulation on
<br />four agricultural souroe units currently under
<br />investlgatl~ower Gunnlson BasIn Unit (Stage 1),
<br />Uinl8. Basin Unit (Stage 1), McElmo Creek Unit, and Palo
<br />Verde lnigation District Unit. Reports presenting the status
<br />and the estimated oonslrUctlon oostsoftttetentatlveplans
<br />were reIeesEId In 1981. Completion of planning reports and
<br />associated NEPA compliance, prec:onstnJction planning,
<br />congressional authorization, and funding are required
<br />before constructlon can begin.
<br />
<br />programs have also slowed the progress of the salinity
<br />control.program. Annual cost-share limitations pel" larmer
<br />and inability to provicle linanclal assistance to irrigation
<br />districts or companies have been major problems. Cost.
<br />sharing needs to be uniquelytallored to the needs of the
<br />Colorado River salinity control program. legislation
<br />Introduced In the last session of Congress would have
<br />authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to'develop and
<br />Implement a special Colorado River salinity control
<br />program.
<br />
<br />Pursue Benellclal Use of SalIne W.....
<br />
<br />Most of the COITent stJtlCtural methods of salinity
<br />control, such as desalting and llnedevaponilion pondsfor
<br />point and diffuse saltsouroes, are proving expensive when
<br />compared to inigaUon Improvements. The_refore,
<br />development of alternatiVe beneficial uses of saUne water
<br />and innovative measures to reduce salinityc:Onoentratlons
<br />are necessary.
<br />By resolution dated ~tember 12, 1980, the Forum
<br />aoopteQ a policy recommending that cOsts 'otuslngsaline
<br />watei$ in lieu of fi'esh waters be undelWrltlen as a part of
<br />the salinity control aCtivities wherever cost-effective. The
<br />Basin States suggest that the Secretary of the Interior be
<br />provided authority under th6 Salinity Control Act to enter
<br />intoc:Ost-sharing coritraCtswilh industrial W8ter users In
<br />the ColOrado River Basin to offset any InCf'9menl1il. .
<br />additiOnal costs of using saline water In lleu of freshwater
<br />whei"69tichundertakingsarecost-effectivefromasallnity
<br />control. perspective.
<br />
<br />Complete Financial Arrangements
<br />
<br />This' basinwide problem has regional as well as national
<br />impacts. The program requires e<x>peratlon of the 8a!lfn
<br />States and Federal Government The current
<br />Administration's economic philosophy is for the
<br />beneficiaries to take the lead both financially and
<br />authoritatively to solve resource management problems.
<br />In order to Implement the program, equitable financial
<br />support will continue to bea necessarycomponentofthe
<br />implementation plan.
<br />In recognition of this jofnteffort forcontrolling salinity In
<br />the Colorado River, the 1974 Colorado River Basin Salinity
<br />Control Act.allocated the costs of salinity conb'olforthe
<br />fourauthortzed:units to be 75 perCent paid by Federal
<br />nonrelfT!bursable funds and 25 percent repaid from the
<br />
<br />The" LOW8l"G~ BalIn Unit ~us report and
<br />F.easibillty Report/Drafl Environmen'\ill $tat8ment
<br />Sddressed the UncOmpahgre Vall9'ij>ortlon 91.,e Lower
<br />Gunnlsor1 Basin. The balance of ttwf B8s1n Would be
<br />studlEid later. The ~mmended pl@lCallsfifths
<br />elimination of wint9!'water deI~"th~P__~o8nal
<br />system and lining ab6ut ~ mUes ()l canalalll'ldJalet$
<br />whiCh would reduce the salinity at'!mper\al pam &bout
<br />15.2 mglL. Based on January 1981prtces, total
<br />construction costs are estimated at $141 million (revIsecI
<br />costs shown in feasibility report). This /8SU1tS in a cost-
<br />effectiveness of abOul $702,000 for Eiach mgit. ,of salinity
<br />reductiOn at Impllrl8l.Dam. USing the' new CRBs formula
<br />for calculating, the salinity reduction Is 14 mgIl with a
<br />cost-eftectiveness of $762,000.
<br />The tentative plan described In ~ Unta EIaM'l Unit
<br />staItA report Irwo/vl;ls selectively llnlflg those portions of
<br />the canal and la~ dlStributionsystWnwhich:are(Tl8klng
<br />the largest contrlbutionstott)essllriitvlewlS!nthearea.
<br />That plan calls for 11~lng certain can$Is and la_terals which
<br />would reduce the salinity concentrattpns at Imper1$l Dam
<br />from 4- to 10 mgIL., Total COn8tructlQn costf went
<br />estimated between $28and $89 mllllQn, b8gedonJanuary
<br />1981prices,excluslVeofthewildllf8'plan,resultlnglna
<br />cost-effectiveness mvge of $57O,OOO.to $962,<<:0 for each
<br />mg/l of salinity reduction at Imperlcd Dam.
<br />ReClamation 1$ working closely WIth SCS indevelop!ng'
<br />acoord_lnatedpl'QQiBmintheareainuefforta'arebelng "
<br />c1osely'coordlnated with ReclamatiOn'S or\g9lng Central
<br />.Utah project. Recant studies haw.~ cori"n9d to a
<br />smaller8l'8$.. Currenlly, about 59 rrill!;s of ~1s and
<br />IateniIs haVe bElen 8eIected for linlog,wilh a resulting
<br />reduction 1n salinity ooncentrations ,Qf 2.4 mgtL. and a
<br />cost-eftectlvenss of $900,900.
<br />The McEJm() CNIk. Unit status ~rt outlined three
<br />oonc:eptual plans involving canal ~,latefalllnlng In
<br />combination with onfarm impr<Mlf'l'ients. The total
<br />construction costs of the canalllnlng.(Stage 1), portion fer
<br />the ~ plan Is expected to bfj,:.approxlmately $35
<br />million with a salinity concentration'Alductton of about
<br />6.1 ~L at Imperili! Dam.
<br />More recent studIeS have indicalEiil that tI)8 preferred
<br />plan Is to combine two canals and 10:1109 several sectlons
<br />ofOthercanals, Thlsplanllasacons!ructIoncb$tofabout
<br />$25 rtiillion~ a Slilinlty fflduction 01 acput 2.4- rng/l, and a
<br />cost-effectlveness'of$ 769,00:1.
<br />
<br />
<br />basin funds derived -hpm the sale Of hydtOPQWer. Of the
<br />states' share, 85 percent will be tepl(lld from the Lower
<br />Basin fund arld'15 percent from tM:Upper Basin fund.
<br />
<br />ContInue Progl8ll1 Imp/enjOInlallOllln FY
<br />1983
<br />
<br />Planning Investigations will contl()Ue to relIi1e plans on
<br />lnigatlon Source control unltsas'".,1I as otho/unlta to
<br />define the most cost~ tTl98lI:i;rres 8$ funding
<br />permits Construction on Grand ValleY Stagli Ooe wlll
<br />continue; preconstriJctlon actIvities"(deep w911 Injection
<br />testing) will continue on Paradox V4l16y Unit; and
<br />reformulation plshs-will continue ortthe Las Vegaq lNaah
<br />Unit. USDAonfarm im'plementatlonwl1l continue In Grand
<br />Valley and Uinta Basin salinity cOn~1 piojec;ts.
<br />The Forumhall indicated ItWilloorltinuetorieekW/lystQ
<br />exp&i!1te progrem lmple:mentatioi. to maintain quality of
<br />CotoradoRlverwateratthe1972hl$tortcal~asthe
<br />Basin States continue to develop tIi8lr compact-
<br />. apportIoned waters. -
<br />
<br />F:or questiOns concerning projects ~ In this
<br />newsletter. please contact the PubllC-AffejfS OffiCe In the
<br />Region responslb/$ for that project.
<br />BUre&lJofReclamatlon
<br />Upper Colorado RegionaJ Office
<br />P.O. Box 11568
<br />SaltLakeCIty,Utah 84147
<br />Telephone:
<br />Commercial:
<br />Bu~uofRectamatlon
<br />lower Colorado Regional Office
<br />P.O. Box 427
<br />Bouf4er City. Nevada 89005
<br />Telephone; FTS 500-7420
<br />Comrrierclal: 7~2{13-.8420
<br />For answers to ~ quesUons otitemsyou would like
<br />to see Included In SALINITY UPDAte, Wrft8 to:
<br />Editor, SALINITY UPDATE, 0-1000-
<br />ColoradO RIvef Watel: Quality Office
<br />Bureau of Reclamation
<br />P.O.Box2f1XJ7
<br />Denver Federal Centar
<br />Denver,CoIorado S0225
<br />Telephone:
<br />Commercial;
<br />
<br />
<br />T
<br />
<br />~; c
<br />
<br />
<br />FTS,58I>-5403
<br />eo"-524-S400
<br />
<br />
<br />FTS 234:-4180
<br />303-234.4180
<br />
<br />VIHf'il f() NOW~
<br />Uf.IIIII~,_c~_"""'_c, "~"'l! ~ _- "c '
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