Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting The budget proposes $3,633,000 for Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting, which is $82,000 more than for fiscal year 1981. In the western states, SCS issues snow survey and water supply forecasts to serve agricultural users of irrigation water and to support water use planning for power generation and municipal water supplies. In these states, snow-fed streams provide more than 70 percent of the water needed for agriculture, industry, municipal use, recreation, fish and wildlife, and other purposes. The measurements of mountain snowpack by SCS and cooperating agencies provide a basis for water-use decisions before the time the water is needed. Water supply forecasts are made for more than 10 million acres of agricultural land. Current data now indicates that the 1981 crop growing season will be characterized by potentially serious water and soil moisture shortages in many parts of the United States, unless there is significant relief by late winter and spring snows and rains. These deficiencies may well carry into the 1982 season in some areas. This underlines the importance of snow survey and water supply forecasting. The automated data collection system called SNOTEL will be 92 percent installed by the end of fiscal year 1981; it will eventually replace much of the manual system used since 1939. We plan to provide our 1982 users with the same number of forecasts as provided in 1981. Plant Materials Centers The budget proposes $3,604,000 for operating 20 Plant Materials Centers, an increase of $459,000 from fiscal year 1981. Of this increase, $59,000 is to cover the increased costs of testing, selecting, and releasing plant species for commercial production, and $400,000 is to replace unservicable equipment and repair facilities. SCS identifies, selects and develops grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees that help control critically eroding soils, reclaim mined-out areas, and reduce sediment, improve water quality, and stabilize sand dunes, protect streambanks and shorelines, and improve windbreaks. These plants may also be used as sources of biomass for energy pro duction. After testing, SCS releases selected plants to seed growers and nurserymen for commercial production. Since 1943, the centers have released more than 200 different varieties of useful conservation plants. The annual commercial production by private growers of these newly developed conservation plants equals the amount of plant materials needed to treat over 1.8 million acres of critically eroding lands. SCS released 19 improved varieties in 1979 and 1980. Resource Appraisal and Program Development The budget proposes $5,797,000 for Resource Appraisal and Program Development (RCA). This is $192,000 more than fiscal year 1981. SCS will use the increase to offset increased operating costs related to the RCA process. This activity is funded to meet the requirements of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (RCA). A wide variety of data and information is collected and analyzed to develop possible alternative strategies and policies for the soil and water conservation programs of the Department. RIVER BASIN SURVEYS AND INVESTIGATIONS The budget proposes an appropriation of $16,165,000 for River Basin Surveys and Investigations. This is a decrease of $2,158,000 from fiscal year 1981 to support a reduced level for USDA cooperative studies, and in Interagency Coordination and program formulation. These surveys and investigations focus on regional concerns and problems. These concerns include water supply and conservation, critical erosion, protection of important farmlands, wetlands, and floodplains, and nonpoint source pollution in rural and agricultural areas. studies provide information for government and private use in making short- and long-range decisions that address these resource concerns, including those that help prevent upstream flood damages. SCS Our 1982 budget addresses these problems and proposes cooperative River Basin Studies with state and Federal agencies at a reduced level. This reduction is due primarily to an increase in data collection under other SCS programs in recent years and completion of major multi-state River Basin Surveys. We propose to initiate two new cooperative studies in fiscal year 1982 compared to six for fiscal year 1981. As of September 30, 1980, 53 cooperative studies were underway. The budget proposes to reduce the rate of completion of salinity studies in the Colorado River Basin because studies are significantly ahead of project implementation. The purpose of these studies is to determine how improved on-farm irrigation, water management, and watershed treatment can reduce salinity. Because of higher priority needs for personnel resources, SCS will not undertake new reimbursable Housing and Urban Development (HUD) flood insurance studies in fiscal year 1982. WATERSHED PLANNING The budget includes $6,690,000 for Watershed Planning. This is a net program decrease of $4,123,000 from fiscal year 1981. No new planning starts are proposed for 1982. For fiscal year 1982, the budget request will permit planning activities to continue in 131 projects of which we expect to complete 10. WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS The budget proposes a total appropriation of $162,045,000 for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations. This is a net decrease of $30,479,000 from fiscal year 1981. this appropriation: Three activities are funded under Flood Prevention Operations Authorized by PL-534 The budget proposes $18,434,000 for the 11 authorized flood prevention projects. This is a net decrease of $5,066,000 from fiscal year 1981 to support a general reduced level of program activity for fiscal year 1982. We need to continue progress on the 107 subwatershed projects now in construction and work to complete another four in fiscal year 1982. We also are at the point where we need to plan the future direction of this program. A review of all flood prevention projects is underway to determine how best to finish the remaining workload. During the last 30 years SCS has completed planned works of improvement and land treatment in 164 of the 398 feasible subwatershed areas within the 11 authorized projects. Two of the eleven projects have been completed--the Buffalo Creek Watershed in New York and the Coosa River Watershed in Georgia. Emergency Watershed Protection Operations The budget proposes $10,000,000 for Emergency Watershed Protection Operations, which is the same funding level as in fiscal year 1980. |