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o {\.? CJ1 ::..11 . Control of nonpoint sources through cost-effective land management techniques that result in multiple-resource benefits Prevention of nonpoint-source salt mobilization through land-use planning, permit stipulations, land-use authorizations, best management practices, watershed protection strategies, and ecological restoration . The BLM should establish and rely on a water-quality monitoring effort to determine suitable areas for nonpoint-source control projects and to assess individual project effectiveness and overall program effectiveness. Point Source Well plugging represents one ofthe few opportunities to eliminate salt from point sources. Qccasionally, old or improperly abandoned wells deteriorate and discharge flowing saline waters to the surface. Where the operator is not known or no longer exists, these wells are referred to as orphan wells. Plugging these wells and stopping the discharge of large volumes of saline water results in considerable quantities of salt retained. For example, the Spring Creek well in Colorado was plugged in 2000, preventing approximately 160 tons/year of salt from reaching the surface. The BLM will continue to identiry saline springs and seeps through its water-source inventories. When identified, saline springs and seepswill be analyzed for potential salinity control projects. Nonpoint Sources The BLM should be committed to identifying, understanding, and controlling nonpoint sources of salinity on BLM-administered public lands. The BLM has used the results of the unified watershed assessment characterization process, soil salinity maps, watershed assessments, watershed analysis tools, reconnaissance water-quality studies, and water-quality monitoring to identiry salinity "hot spots." The BLM has been involved with nonpoint source control in the past using the following tools or activities. Resource ManafJement Plans: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act requires the BLM to prepare land use plans that provide management direction for the public lands. BLM's planning process is the principal mechanism for making land-use decisions and the first step in implementing salinity control actions. The BLM has. developed a resource management planning process to make basic land-use decisions. Although all resource values and land uses on BLM- managed public lands are included, the development of solutions to specific planning issues is emphasized in resource management planning. The Forum hopes that salinity goals and objectives will be used in a more focused way as Resource Management Plans are developed. The BLM's planning process is used to develop Resource Management Plans (RMP) that examine management alternatives for all resources and land uses on BLM public lands. All resource 4-12