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<br />003J~3 <br /> <br />PAGE 4 <br /> <br />DISCOURAGES HATER CONSERVATION BY AGRICULTURAL USERS. THE STANDARD, <br />WE ALL KNOW, IS TO "USE IT OR LOSE IT." EVEN IF A FARMER FINDS A <br />WAY TO REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION, THE SYSTEM OFFERS HIM NO INCENTIVES <br />TO DO SO. IN FACT, HE MIGHT EVEN LOSE HIS RIGHTS TO THE WATER SAVED <br />-- WHICH CONSTITUTES A LARGE DISINCENTIVE. HE NEED TO THINK <br />TOGETHER ABOUT HOH HE MIGHT ADJUST THIS PART OF THE SYSTEM TO ALLOH <br />AGRICULTURAL USERS TO.BENEFIT FROM HATER SAVINGS, PERHAPS BY SELLING <br />THOSE SAVINGS TO MUNICIPALITIES. <br /> <br />HE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HAYS TO REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION <br />HITHOUT REDUCING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND HE KNOH THAT THESE <br />METHODS OFTEN ARE CHEAPER THAN BUILDING A DAM. WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY <br />CONSIDER LEGISLATION WHICH ENCOURAGES FARMERS TO FIND THOSE SAVINGS <br />AND ALLOWS THEM TO PROFIT FROM THEIR INITIATIVE. <br /> <br />THIRD, WE NEED TO REVIEW HOW THE DIVERSION OF HATER IN COLORADO FROM <br />ONE BASIN TO ANOTHER AFFECTS THE BASIN OF ORIGIN. THIS REALLY IS AN <br />EQUITY ISSUE. WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR SYSTEM ADEQUATELY PROTECTS <br />BASINS OF ORIGIN. WHILE DIVERSIONS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL AND VALID ROLE <br />IN OUR FUTURE HATER PLANNING, HE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE TAKE <br />HATER OUT OF ONE BASIN, WE REMOVE NOT JUST WATER BUT ALSO THE CHANCE <br />FOR THE PEOPLE OF THAT BASIN TO USE THAT WATER FOR THEIR OWN NEEDS. <br />THIS APPLIES TO MUNICIPALITIES, AGRICULTURE AND THE TOURIST INDUSTRY <br />ON THE WESTERN SLOPE. IT ALSO APPLIES TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN <br />EASTERN COLORADO. THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE CHARACTERIZED AS EAST <br />VS. WEST. RATHER, IT IS AN ISSUE OF PRESERVING BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL <br />ASSETS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT COLORADO. <br />