In
1997 the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation created the Water Conservation Field
Services Program. This program represents a firm commitment by the
USBR to:
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Encourage water conservation through
voluntary and cooperative means
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Assist water agencies to develop and
implement effective water management and conservation plans, and
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Coordinate with other state and local
conservation program efforts which foster improved water management practices
In the Lower Colorado Region, the USBR
works in partnership with local sponsors by contributing technical and
financial assistance for water conservation measures. Financial assistance
can be provided for up to 50% of project costs. Acceptable projects
must be related to one or more of the following four categories:
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Water management planning
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Conservation education
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Demonstration of new technology
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Implementation of conservation measures
The financial and technical support
of the LCRSAN represents the Bureau's commitment to demonstrating new technology
and implementing conservation measures within the agricultural sector,
specifically with respect to improving salinity management and irrigation
water management. |
The
George E. Brown Jr., Salinity Laboratory is the nations primary facility
dedicated to the basic research on salinity problems in agriculture.
The laboratory is operated by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS).
The mission of the Salinity Laboratory
is to develop research, knowledge, and technology solutions to the problems
encountered on salt effected lands. Research areas include improving
crop production under saline conditions, promoting the sustainability of
irrigated agriculture, and preventing the degradation of surface and ground-water
resources by salts, toxic elements, pesticides, and pathogens. The
scientists and technical staff at the Salinity Laboratory work under three
research units: Plant Science, Soil Physics & Pesticides, and
Soil and Water Chemistry.
The mission of the Soil and Water
Chemistry Management Unit is to pursue research and develop technology
transfer applications within the following three subject areas: (1) the
quantification of salt related chemical processes operating in salt affected
and/or sodic soils, including toxic trace elements, (2) the development
and implementation of instrumentation and technology for soil salinity
assessment and monitoring, and (3) the development of control practices
and agricultural management technologies for substaining irrigation while
conserving soil and water resources. The Chemistry Management Unit
actively supports the LCRSAN via the transfer of R&D technologies from
all three of these subject areas. |
