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<br />o <br />{\) <br />w <br />o <br /> <br />The Colorado River water quality standards for salinity, and the approach taken by the Basin <br />states in complying, are unique. The numeric criteria selected as the water quality standards were <br />established to protect infrastructure and crop production rather than human health or fish and wildlife <br />values. Also, the program is a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local agencies and <br />participants with the goal of protecting the watershed. <br /> <br />Program Funding <br /> <br />Adequate funding is required to meet the standards. Funds are provided from federal and <br />non-federal sources. Federal appropriations and non-federal funds including Basin states cost-share <br />funds and local participant dollars are used to implement the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Program. The Basin states and the local producers have funds available and stand ready to <br />implement the program proposed in this report. <br /> <br />Figure 1-2 shows federal appropriations for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Program over the past fourteen years. Annual appropriations to Reclamation were as large as $34.6 <br />million as recently as 1992, but for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 the Administration has requested an <br />appropriation of $9.8 million. The Basin states believe the appropriation to Reclamation can be <br />smaller than in the past because of improved cost-effectiveness, but finds that about $10.5 million <br />is needed each year through the planning period of this report. <br /> <br />60.00 <br />50.00 <br />,,,,.40.00 <br />bJl[;l <br />~ =a 30.00 <br />~ ~ 20.00 <br />Ol '" <br />il.~ 10.00 <br />"" :- <br />~ 1i 0.00 <br />'-' 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 <br /> <br /> <br />DBLM <br />. USDA <br />. USBR <br /> <br />Year <br /> <br />Figure 1-2. Historic Federal Funding Levels <br /> <br />Following the passage of F AlRA in 1996, federal funding was provided to the USDA each <br />year for distribution for environmental enhancement efforts tlIrough the nationwide EQIP. In 1991 <br />and 1992, when salinity control was a separate line-item, $14.8 million was made available to the <br />USDA's Colorado River Salinity Control Program by Congress, but in 1998 the USDA allocated <br />only $3.9 million. A partial solution to this under-funding was found when USDA designated the <br /> <br />1-5 <br />