Section 205 of the Act directs Reclamation to utilize funds from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund and the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund (“the Basin Funds”) to provide the authorized cost share amounts in a manner that is consistent with the Act.
Public Law 110-246 amended
the Act creating the Basin States Program (“the BSP”), amending Section 205(f) of the Act to provide that cost share obligations be met through an up-front cost share from the Basin Funds, and authorizes Reclamation to expend the required cost share funds through the BSP for salinity control activities established under Section 202(a)(7) of the Act.
The BSP falls under the Reclamation’s Financial Assistance Program, and is defined as a Discretionary Grant; therefore, is governed by the rules and regulations for the Financial Assistance Program and Discretionary Grants.
Reclamation has determined the Colorado Soil Conservation Board ("the CSCB") to be an appropriate partner and has authorized the CSCB for a single-source award based on demonstrable criteria such as unique expertise and capacity.
Section 202 of the Act includes salinity control measures implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (“the NRCS”) under their Environmental Quality Incentives Program (“EQIP”).
Reclamation is authorized to utilize Basin Funds to cost share salinity measures implemented by the NRCS under EQIP with the CSCB.