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<br />o <br />N <br />~ <br />w <br /> <br />Considerable knowledge has been gained through a wide range of research, and technical <br />studies since the Forum took this position. Procedures for reducing the volume of saline irrigation <br />return flows have been developed. Reclamation and the USDA are implementing voluntary cost- <br />sharing programs with individual farmers, irrigation districts, and canal companies in order to <br />accomplish salt loading reductions to the river system by improving off-farm and on-farm water <br />delivery and drainage systems as well as on-farm water management practices. <br /> <br />Reclamation and the USDA work in cooperation with the Forum' s Work Group. The Work <br />Group holds meetings on a more frequent basis than the Forum to review technical information <br />which is generated by the federal agencies. Membership on the Work Group is composed of <br />technical representatives from each of the Basin states and the Executive Director of the Forum. The <br />Work Group keeps current with salinity control efforts and suggests revisions to the Plan of <br />Implementation as appropriate. The Work Group operates under a schedule which enables the states <br />to take action on any potential revision in a timely manner. <br /> <br />Review of the Numeric Criteria <br /> <br />Based on the Forum's statement quoted above, this document is the appropriate setting to <br />review the numeric criteria and recommend any changes if necessary. <br /> <br />The existing numeric criteria were adopted nearly 27 years ago. Since then, the Forum has <br />seen a shift in the water use patterns in the lower mainstem of the Colorado River. While agriculture <br />still remains the predominant user there has been a shift within this sector from growing mostly low <br />value salt tolerant crops to growing higher value, less salt tolerant crops. Current trends and <br />discussions among the Basin states indicate there will be a continued shift in the use by the <br />agricultural sector to the municipal and industrial sector. Because of this shift, the need for water <br />conservation and efficiency within the agriculture sector continues to put an emphasis on reducing <br />salinity. As this shift continues, there will likely be more pressure to remove additional salt from <br />the water and more emphasis on maintaining the salinity below the current numeric criteria. <br /> <br />Because uses are changing over time, it is appropriate to review the numeric criteria to <br />determine if they still adequately protect water uses in the Lower Basin. Both California and <br />Arizona have begun to evaluate the effect of higher salinity on the municipal and industrial sectors <br />in their states. As these efforts progress, it will continue to be appropriate to revisit the numeric <br />criteria associated with the water quality standards for salinity in the Colorado River system. <br /> <br />Based on the current use patterns in the Lower Basin and the ongoing progress toward <br />accomplishing all measures identified in the Plan of Implementation as described in this Review, the <br />Forum finds the current numeric criteria are adequate for the next three years and recommend no <br />changes at this time. <br /> <br />3-3 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />,1, J <br />