10.070 Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program

Direct Payments for Specified Use

State

Local

Individual/Family

Native American Organization

A--Agriculture

A-Resource Conservation, Development

A-Research, Development

G--Education

G-Research, Evaluation

J--Environment

J-Research, Education, Training

Q--Natural Resources

Q-Water Conservation, Research

       (CRBSCP)

 

FEDERAL AGENCY: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974, as amended, Section 202c of Title II, 43 U.S.C. 1592c; Section 201, Public Law 93-320, 88 Stat. 271; Section 2, Public Law 98-569, 98 Stat. 2933, 43 U.S.C. 1592(c).

OBJECTIVES: To provide financial and technical assistance to Identify salt source areas; (2) develop project plans to carry out conservation practices to reduce salt loads; (3) install conservation practices to reduce salinity levels; (4) carry out research, education, and demonstration activities; (5) carry out monitoring and evaluation activities; and (6) to decrease salt concentration and salt loading which causes increased salinity levels within in the Colorado River and to enhance the supply and quality of water available for use in the United States and the Republic of Mexico.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Direct Payments for Specified Use.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Eligible owners or operators in approved project  areas may receive cost-share assistance to treat salinity problems caused by  agricultural irrigation activities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: A participant may be any of the following an owner, landlord, operator, or tenant of eligible lands: Individual, Indian tribe, partnership, firm, association, corporation, joint stock company, conservation district, estate, trust, irrigation district or company, and State or local public or nonpublic entity not described above.

Beneficiary Eligibility: Any person in the Colorado River basin will benefit who uses or reuses water for irrigation, domestic, municipal or industrial water supply or for fish  and wildlife habitat.

Credentials/Documentation: Any eligible landowner or operator who controls land in an identified salt source area is eligible to apply for cost-share assistance.  This program is currently available in Mesa, Delta, Montezuma, and Montrose counties, Colorado; Duchesne and Uintah counties, Utah; Sweetwater county, Wyoming.  This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB  Circular No. A-102.  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."  An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure: Eligible persons may make application on Form SCS-LTP-001.  CRSC contracts may be requested during sign-up periods throughout the year at the local NRCS office in the county where the land is located. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure: The designated project Contracting officer may approve applications within the project allocation of Federal funds for cost-share assistance.

Deadlines: None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: None.

Appeals: Participants may appeal any determination to the National Appeals Division, Washington, DC.

Renewals: Certain practice approvals may be extended by the contracting Offices.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: Cost-share assistance levels may be funded up to 70 percent of total cost.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Long-term contracts of 3 to 10 years.  Cost-share assistance is paid when the practice is performed.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: None.

Audits: Subject to audit by Office of the Inspector General, USDA.

Records: Records are maintained in the NRCS office and Federal record centers for a specified number of years.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification: 12-3318-0-1-304.

Obligations: (Direct payments) FY 99 $128,809; FY 00 est $776,966; and FY 01 est $0.  Note:  From carryover funds.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: The range has not been identified.  The average is $20,000.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The on-farm land treatment accomplishments from inception of the projects are:  Grand Valley Project (1979-99), 587 miles of ditch lining/pipeline installed, 5,332 acres treated for land leveling, 1,851 irrigation sprinkler systems installed on 26,033 acres, and salt load reduction of 77,458 tons; Uinta Basin Project (1980-99) 857 miles of ditch linings/pipeline installed, 2,580 acres treated for land leveling, 2,219 irrigation sprinkler systems installed on 103,558 acres, and salt load reduction of 91,834 tons; Big Sandy River Project (1988-99), 34 miles of ditch linings/pipeline installed, 148 irrigation sprinkler systems installed on 8,014 acres, and salt load reduction of 29,911 tons; Lower Gunnison Basin (1988-99), 329 miles of ditch linings/pipeline installed, 1,830 acres treated for land leveling, 1,222 irrigation sprinkler systems installed on 23,729 acres, and salt load reduction of 42,259 tons; McElmo Creek Project (1987-99), 126 miles of ditch linings/pipeline installed, 317 irrigation sprinkler systems installed on 5,563 acres, and salt load reduction of 13,568 tons.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Guidelines are announced through the news media and in letters to agricultural producers in the county.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: Consult the local telephone directory for location of the local NRCS field office.  If there is no listing, get in touch with the appropriate State NRCS office listed in the NRCS section of Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-1873.  Use the same number for FTS.

RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.072, Wetlands Reserve Program; 10.064, Forestry Incentives Program; 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention; 10.900, Great Plains Conservation; 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: For fiscal year 1998, salinity control activities were funded under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: The type and severity of salinity problems;  the need to correlate on the farm conservation treatment with canal and lateral improvement; estimated cost; extent of the salinity problem; proximity to water bodies; land use charges; offsite effects; onsite environmental effects; other resource problems; seasonal nature of salinity reduction practices to be installed; applicants' ability to complete practices in the shortest time practical; and positive or negative effects on wildlife.