|
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />......
<br />
<br />
<br />'......
<br />
<br />
<br />'" ;.
<br />
<br />&991:' 0
<br />
<br />
<br />~ijna:ncing
<br />
<br />Distribution ofwater in the quantities, atthe times, and to the
<br />areas where it is needed requires not only engineering works
<br />but organization, operation, maintenance, and management.
<br />AI! require money.
<br />The Northern Colorado Water Conse/Vancy District man-
<br />ages, operates, and maintains the water distributing portion of
<br />the Colorado-Brg Thompson Project, shares with the Water
<br />and Power' Resources Se/Vrce operation and maintenance
<br />costs of Power works jointly used by the power and irrigation
<br />systems, and annually pays toward retirement of the construc-
<br />tion debt.
<br />Two sources provide revenues.. Direct users of water pay
<br />annual assessments for the right to use the number of acre~
<br />feet allotted to them, upon their own application, by the Dis~
<br />trict's Board of Directors. The Board sets the assessment
<br />rates annually for each of four classes of se/Vice for which
<br />water is allotted. Industrial water carries the highest rate and is
<br />followed by municipal, domestic, multi.purpose, and irrigation
<br />assessments in descending order. Additionally, the District
<br />levies by law a one mill ad valorem taX against aU real and
<br />personal property within the District.
<br />With repayments which began in 1962, the District will pay
<br />to the United States the sum of $26,031,000 over a 4O-year
<br />standard reclamation repayment period.
<br />All excess revenues are placed in contract~required re-
<br />serves to cover the cost of emergency repair, rehabilitation,
<br />and replacement of either the joint or District-operated works
<br />or to be held in escrow for construction repayments in the final
<br />years of contract repayment.
<br />
<br />Water's Role in Area Economy
<br />
<br />tn the semi-arid western states an adequate, dependable
<br />water supply is a prime requisite. Whether the area is essen-
<br />tIally agricultural or urban and industrial, the natural water
<br />supply must be conserved, husbanded, and supplemented.
<br />Although historically an agricultural area, the lands selVed
<br />by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are
<br />becoming more attractive to urban and industrial development
<br />at least in part because of the more dependable water supply.
<br />As evidence, the cities along the Front Range-Boulder,
<br />Longmont, Loveland, Fort Cellins, - and Greeley-
<br />approximately quadrupled their aggregate population from
<br />1950 to 1980. While sugar refining, cement manufacturing,
<br />and the poultry, dairy, fruit, and vegetable processing indus.
<br />tries have long been established, major new industrial
<br />facilities have been developed during the same 30-year
<br />period. Sizeable installations have been built by l.B.M.,
<br />Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Martin-MarIetta, Beech
<br />Aircraft, BaU Brothers, Woodward Governor, Monfort of Colo-
<br />rado, and others.
<br />In spite of the urban and industrial growth, crop and lives-
<br />tock production retain a major role In the economy 01 the
<br />District. For example, INestocKfeeding, largely by commercial
<br />feeders, accounts for nearly two-thIrds of the area's agricul-
<br />tura/ wealth. The remainder arises tram the principal field
<br />crops of sugar beats, potatoes, corn, alfalfa, and truck crops.
<br />District lands In seven counties annually produce over$3S0
<br />million in total agricultural wealth as one of the prime economic
<br />bases of the area.
<br />
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Beet
<br />
<br />
<br />~f...~i!!E'!?! ~
<br />" ~~
<br />
<br />
|