The Bureau of Reclamation has allocated $20.9 million to support six salinity control initiatives in Colorado and Utah under its Basinwide and Basin States Salinity Control Programs.
These efforts aim to reduce salt levels in the Colorado River and mitigate related impacts across the basin.This financial backing will help prevent around 11,661 tons of salt from entering the Colorado River annually.
The current estimated economic losses due to salinity in the river’s water total approximately $332 million per year in the United States. Without the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program, these damages are projected to rise to $631 million per year.
“These awards will make improvements to off-farm irrigation systems like ditches and laterals in the Upper Basin States and prevent economic damages to downstream users by improving Colorado River water quality,” said Clarence Fullard, program manager for Reclamation’s Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. “When the projects are complete, they will benefit crop production and decrease water treatment costs and damage to water supply infrastructure in Lower Basin States.”
The selection of these projects was conducted through a competitive process that was open to the public.
Reclamation issues, evaluates, and awards grants via Notice of Funding Opportunity announcements for projects initiated by non-federal entities involved in salt management in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
A key criterion for selection is the cost-effectiveness in controlling salt levels. Over the next four years, Reclamation will allocate $17.5 million to Colorado and $3.4 million to Utah.
Source :Bureau of Reclamation
